SC stays blocking of Kannada TV channel

The Supreme Court said suspension of broadcast by Kannada news channel Power TV after it extensively reported the alleged sex scandal involving JD(S) leaders appeared to be “sheer political vendetta” and stayed a Karnataka HC order that had virtually blocked its operations. “We must zealously protect the right to free speech,” said a bench of CJI D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. Protesting the CJI’s remarks, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said, “The Supreme Court said something which may not be justified from the records. The show cause notice to the channel was issued on Feb 9 as it was found that the license for uplink and downlink permissions have been sublet by the channel. Subletting the uplink and downlink permissions can’t be done without the ministry of home affairs’ express permission as it could be misused to the detriment of the nation.”