New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed coercive action against two Telugu television news channels ABN Andhra Jyothy and TV5, who moved the apex court against an FIR registered against them by the Andhra Pradesh Police on sedition charges.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the two news channels telecast “offending speeches” by YSR Congress party rebel MP K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, and they were charged with sedition as well as an order restraining the respondents from taking any coercive action against them.
A bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao, and S Ravindra Bhat observed that prima facie the FIRs against the channels in an attempt to “muzzle media freedom.”
The bench also sought the response of the AP government within four weeks on the pleas of the channels.
The petitioners said the action taken by the police violated the top court’s April 30 order, which warned that there should be no clampdown on citizens voicing their grievances in connection with the health crisis.
The channels said that ever since the YS Jaganmohan Reddy-led government came to power, they have been the target of the state government, resulting in limited broadcasting in the state.
At a separate hearing on Covid vaccination, in a caustic remark by Justice Chandrachud, the word “sedition” came up again with reference to the visuals aired by TV channels of dead bodies being dumped into a river in Uttar Pradesh.
In a sarcastic remark, he said, “I do not know whether a complaint of sedition has been filed against the news channel for showing it.”
UNI
Sedition charges: SC puts hold on coercive action against two Telugu TV channels is added by Agencies on View all posts by Agencies →
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