Delhi HC stays order of I&B ministry, Lokshahi channel back on air
The notice to take the Lokshahi news channel off air for 72 hours had come in for criticism from Opposition parties.
3 min read
Lokshahi news channel employees protest the I&B Ministry direction to stay off-air for 72 hours. (Twitter/@kamleshsutar) A DAY after Lokshahi news channel, which had broadcast a story on an explicit video, purportedly of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, had gone off air for 72 hours following a notice from the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry, it was back on air. This was after an order by the Delhi High Court which stayed the directions of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
In a tweet, the channel’s Editor-in-Chief Kamlesh Sutar said, “Lokshahi to resume at 7 pm today. This is to inform you all, pursuant to the order by MIB dated 22.09.2023, Lokshahi Marathi was put under suspension for 72 hours. The said order was challenged by us before the Hon Delhi High Court. Today, after a lengthy hearing, the Hon’ble High Court has suspended the directions of the MIB and has directed that the channel be resumed from 7 pm today till further orders. See you LIVE at 7 pm.”
Today, after a lengthy hearing, the Hon’ble High Court has suspended the directions of the MIB and has directed that the channel be resumed from 7 pm today till further orders.
See you LIVE at 7 pm
(…2/2)— Kamlesh Sutar (@kamleshsutar) September 23, 2023
The notice to take the channel off air for 72 hours also came in for criticism from the Opposition in the state which called it “undeclared emergency.”
सूचना आणि प्रसारण मंत्रालयाने लोकशाही मराठी चॅनल ७२ तासांसाठी बंदचे आदेश दिल्यानंतर लोकशाही मराठीच्या सर्व कर्मचाऱ्यांनी हाताला काळी पट्टी बांधून आणि तोंडावर पांढरी पट्टी बांधून कारवाईचा निषेध व्यक्त केला.#lokshahimarathi @kamleshsutar @Bhoyarmanoj @prashcsn02 pic.twitter.com/lP1GEpwl7D
— Lokshahi Marathi (@LokshahiMarathi) September 22, 2023
In a video released on Friday, Sutar had said, “I wanted to give an important update to our viewers. The I&B ministry had given us a notice earlier regarding a story on Somaiya following which we had presented our say. Now we have received a notice asking us to take the channel off air for 72 hours. From 7pm onwards, for the next 72 hours, you will not be able to see (our channel). We are taking legal advice.”
Earlier this month, the Mumbai police had registered an FIR against Sutar and a YouTuber for allegedly airing the video. During the recently concluded monsoon session of the state legislature, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis had ordered an inquiry in the matter based on the issue being raised by Opposition leaders regarding women being sexually harassed. The crime branch was asked to conduct the probe which is still underway.
You May Like
