‘ Don’t want to curb freedom of speech’: SC mulls nature of order in Sudarshan TV row

New Delhi, Sept. 21: The Supreme Court on Monday pondered over the nature and extent of its order regulating Sudarshan TV’s Bindas Bol programme on alleged infiltration of Muslims in bureaucracy saying it did not want to curtail freedom of speech as the programme has public interest involved on issues of foreign funding and reservation .

The apex court, which has already imposed the pre- telecast ban on episodes of UPSC Jehad as part of Bindas Bol programmes

on a plea raising grievances against it on grounds, including hate speech, was irked over the fact that the channel, in its affidavit, has named one English news channel for running two shows on Hindu terror earlier.

“Why you have said about the programmes ( of the English news channel). Who asked about your opinion about the programmes,” a bench headed by Justice D. Y. Chandrachud asked the counsel representing the news channel.

Lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for editorinchief Suresh Chavhanke, said that his affidavit contained reference of the English channel and their programmes on Hindu terror as he was asked earlier as to why the UPSC Jehad episodes have shown Muslim men in skull caps and wearing greens .

“Does this mean that every time, the judges asked questions you will shoot your mouth with your views? If that is the case then judges will stop asking questions. You are not supposed to file affidavits on all the questions which judges ask. Judges ask questions to elicit better response,” said the apex court bench which also comprised Justices Indu Malhotra and K. M. Joseph.