- TV5, ABN channels get relief
- AP govt. issued notice
- SC asks AP not to take any coercive action against the petitioners
New Delhi: Justice Chandrachud on Tuesday said “it is time the court defines sedition.” Supreme Court today put on hold Andhra Pradesh’s action against two TV channels and said it is time we define limits of sedition. The Andhra Pradesh government should not take any coercive steps against Telugu news channels TV5 and ABN Andhra Jyothi, the SC said. The Andhra Pradesh government’s act of filing sedition cases against the channels amounts to muffling channels, the judge commented.
Shreya Broadcasting and Aamoda Broadcasting Companies had filed contempt petitions on behalf of TV5 and ABN respectively against the State of Andhra Pradesh. Senior advocate Shyam Divan appeared on behalf of the petitioner TV5. An FIR was filed against the channels with charges under 124 A, 153 A IPC. Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju, sitting MP, was allegedly making hate speeches and they were broadcast by the channels on daily basis creating disaffection among the people, claimed AP government. The TV channels had conspired with Raju, the government charged.
Justice Chandrachud has ordered that the notice be issued to AP government returnable within six weeks.
