Highlights:
- ‘Definition of sedition law needs to be examined’
- The need to set limits on the law
- Relief from action to Telugu news channels
The Supreme Court has said that the definition of sedition law needs to be examined, especially in the context of media rights and freedom of expression. The court relieved TV news channels TV Five and ABN Andhrajyoti of the action, saying there was a need to set limits on the law.
Ruling YSR Congress rebel MP K. Andhra Pradesh police has registered various cases against TV channels ‘TV Five’ and ‘ABN Andhrajyoti’ for allegedly showing offensive speeches by Raghuram Krishna Raju. Both the media companies have approached the apex court seeking quashing of the case. Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud, Justice. L. N. Rao and Justice. S. The petition was heard before a bench headed by Ravindra Bhat.
News programs and opinion polls published in newspapers are critical of the government, but they cannot be considered traitors.
– Supreme Court
At the time, the bench said, “The interpretation of provisions 124A (treason) and 153 (incitement to hatred in various communities) of the Indian Penal Code needs to be examined, especially in the context of media rights and freedom of expression.” The bench also clarified that even though the programs aired by the news channels and the opinions published by the newspapers were critical of the government, they could not be considered as traitors. The court has issued a notice to the Andhra Pradesh government saying it is time to set limits on the sedition law. The state government has been directed to respond to the petitions filed by the news channels within four weeks. Moreover, both the news channels in connection with this crime; The bench also warned the Andhra Pradesh police not to take any punitive action against their officers and employees.
Shreya Broadcasting Pvt. Ltd. “The state government intends to silence its critics and the media by filing suspicious FIRs and abusing the legal process,” the company said in a petition. MP Raju had made speeches criticizing the state government for handling the situation in the state. The company has claimed that the news channel was charged with treason for showing these speeches.
MP Raju was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The Supreme Court has released him on bail on May 21.
The crime of treason on ‘that’ news channel too?
The Supreme Court has expressed outrage over allegations of treason against people seeking help through social media during the Corona crisis, as well as those who criticize the government. During the hearing in the same context, the Supreme Court pointed out that if a channel showed a body floating in a river, then a case of treason was also filed against them. A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking information on the supply of essential medicines, vaccines and oxygen for medical use to Corona patients. Meenakshi Arora, a senior lawyer and friend of the court, raised questions on the handling of Karona’s body. ‘We saw bodies being thrown into the river on a channel. Now we don’t know whether that channel has also been charged with treason, ‘he said. D. Y. Chandrachud killed and held the administration to account for handling the corpses.
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