Sudarshan TV’s ‘UPSC Jihad’ violated programme code, Centre tells SC

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that the Centre prima facie found that Sudarshan TV’s controversial ‘Bindas Bol’ programme has violated the programme code. He also informed the SC that a show cause notice has been issued to the channel demanding an explanation on why action should not be taken against it. Now, Sudarshan TV has to reply to the notice by 28 September. 

The channel aired a controversial programme ‘UPSC Jihad’ likening entry of Muslims in civil services to “infiltration” and “jihad”. The court also made it clear that till further orders, its interim injunction restraining Sudarshan TV from broadcasting the remaining episodes of the show would continue to remain in force. Since a notice to show cause has been issued by the Central government to the fourth respondent today, the hearing of the present proceedings is deferred to 5 October, the SC said. 

The court which was hear ing the case related to airing of the controversial programme said, “The notice shall be dealt with in accordance with law and the Central government shall submit a report to this court indicating the outcome of the notice. Since the notice has been issued during the pendency of these proceedings, further steps in pursuance of the notice to show cause shall be subject to the result of the present proceedings and to such orders as may be passed by this Court.”

 Earlier, the editor-in-chief of the channel, Suresh Chavhanke, had filed an additional affidavit before the SC saying that the channel will strictly comply with all the laws while airing the remaining episodes of the UPSC series in ‘Bindas Bol’. He further stated in the affidavit that the channel will also abide and comply by the programme code and directions of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting strictly.

 Chavhanke, in his affidavit, highlighted two shows aired by another channel NDTV, one in September 2008 titled “Hindu Terror: Myth or Fact” and another in 2010 titled “Is Saffron Threat Real?” which he submitted “pained” and “shocked” him.