BackSC stays Delhi high court order on Comedy Central ban
Lawyers appearing for Viacom 18, argued that these provisions amount to content control by the executive, something that cannot be permitted
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Delhi high court’s decision directing Comedy Central to go off air for six days starting 12.01am on 26 November.
A bench of justices Dipak Misra and U.U. Lalit issued a notice to the central government on Viacom 18’s plea challenging the constitutional validity of certain sections of the Cable Television Networks Act.
Lawyers Harish Salve and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Viacom 18, argued that these provisions amount to content control by the executive, something that cannot be permitted.
As a result of the apex courts ruling, the channel will be back on air. However, if the Supreme Court finds no merit in Viacom 18’s challenge, the ban will be imposed again.
The case will come up for hearing on 8 December.
The high court had on 24 November upheld a 10-day ban imposed on Comedy Central by the ministry of information and broadcasting for airing “vulgar" and “offensive" content during May and July 2012. Since the channel had already undergone a ban for four days earlier, it was ordered to undergo the remaining six days now.
Apoorva contributed to this story.
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