Delhi High Court - Orders
Rakul Preet Singh vs Union Of India, Through: Its Secretary, ... on 4 March, 2021
Author: Prathiba M. Singh
Bench: Prathiba M. Singh
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:DINESH
SINGH NAYAL
Signing Date:06.03.2021
17:20:07
$~10
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ W.P.(C) 6568/2020 & CM APPLs. 22957/2020, 24293/2020
RAKUL PREET SINGH ..... Petitioner
Through: Dr. Aman Hingorani, Dr. Shweta
Hingorani & Mr. Himanshu Yadav,
Advocates.
versus
UNION OF INDIA, THROUGH: ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF
INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING & ORS...... Respondents
Through: Mr. Chetan Sharma, ASG with Mr.
Ajay Digpaul, CGSC, Mr. Amit
Gupta, Mr. Vinay Yadav, Mr. Akshay
Gadeock, Mr. Sahaj Garg and Mr. R.
Venkat Prabhat, Advocates for UOI.
Ms. Shreya Sinha, Advocate for R-3
(M-9971105770).
Mr. Rahul Bhatia, Advocate for R-4.
CORAM:
JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH
ORDER
% 04.03.2021
1. This hearing has been done through video conferencing.
2. There are two status reports which have been received - one on behalf of News Broadcasters Association (hereinafter 'NBA') and one on behalf of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (hereinafter 'I&B Ministry').
3. Insofar as the NBA is concerned, the stand of the NBA is that it has examined the complaint of the Petitioner and issued various orders against television channels which are its members. Copies of the orders have been placed on record.
Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRATHIBA M SINGH Signing Date:06.03.2021 11:15 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:DINESH SINGH NAYAL Signing Date:06.03.2021 17:20:074. Insofar as the I&B Ministry is concerned, the status report shows that necessary action has been initiated by the Ministry and an advisory has also been given to all private TV channels on 9th October, 2020 for adherence to the Programme Code and Advertising Code.
5. Dr. Hingorani, ld. Counsel appearing for the Petitioner submits that the I&B Ministry also ought to take action against such television channels who are not members of the NBA under the Cable Television Networks (Regulations) Act, 1995.
6. If the Petitioner has the details and data relating to the said channels and the links thereof, the same may be provided, if not already provided to the I&B Ministry, for appropriate action in accordance with law.
7. Insofar as the content of the channels which have already been taken down is concerned, the same are not stated to be available with the Petitioner. Accordingly, the I&B Ministry may obtain the same from the respective channels. The I&B Ministry may file a further status report after taking necessary action in terms of the Cable Television Networks (Regulations) Act, 1995 and the Rules thereunder within a period of six weeks.
8. Dr. Hingorani, ld. Counsel submits that all the data has been given vide representations dated 23rd September, 2020, 30th September, 2020 and 30th December, 2020. All the information given by the Petitioner, including in the said letters be considered by the I&B Ministry.
9. List on 20th May, 2021.
PRATHIBA M. SINGH, J.
MARCH 4, 2021 Rahul/T Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:PRATHIBA M SINGH Signing Date:06.03.2021 11:15