Supreme Court issues notice to Centre over blocking BBC documentary series
1 min read . Updated: 03 Feb 2023, 12:54 PM IST
Premium- The apex court also directed the Centre to produce original records relating to take down order
The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the central government on pleas challenging its decision to block a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots.
A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Justice M M Sundresh issued notices to the government and others on the pleas filed by veteran journalist N Ram, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan.
It also issued a notice on the plea filed by lawyer M L Sharma.
The apex court also directed the Centre to produce original records relating to take down order.
"We are issuing notices. Counter affidavit be filed within three weeks. Rejoinder within two weeks after that," the bench said.
The matter is listed for next hearing in April.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by Vishnu Gupta, president of Hindu Sena, and Beerendra Kumar Singh, a farmer, which has also sought investigation against BBC and its employees.
Alleging that BBC has been biased against India and Indian government, the plea said the documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is result of deep conspiracy against global rise of India and its prime minister.
"The documentary film by BBC relating to Gujarat violence 2002 implicating Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only reflective of anti-Narendra Modi cold propaganda broadcast to tarnish his image alone but this is anti-Hinduism propaganda by BBC to destroy the social fabric of India," the plea said.
