SC stays HC order on Kannada channel, calls it ‘political vendetta’

The Supreme Court Friday stayed Karnataka High Court order restraining the broadcast of Kannada channel ‘Power TV’.Presiding over a three-judge bench, CJI D Y Chandrachud said it appeared to be a case of “sheer political vendetta” given that the Kannada channel was reporting on some of the recent sex scandals rocking the state.

“The more we hear you, the more we are convinced that it is political vendetta…That is why we are inclined to protect the freedom of speech and expression. He wanted to broadcast some allegations regarding the sex scandal in the state. This Court is duty-bound to allow him…this is sheer political vendetta and nothing else”, the CJI said.

On June 26, a single judge of the Karnataka HC had restrained the Kannada channel from airing after it was told that the Centre had issued show-cause notice to the channel for allegedly operating without a valid licence since 2021. The HC Division Bench refused to interfere with the Single Bench order following which it approached the SC.

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that records show that the show cause notice was over the channel subletting its uplink and downlinking licence.

Issuing notice to the Centre and others on the plea filed by M/s Power Smart Media Pvt Ltd, the bench also stayed the HC order till Monday, news agency PTI reported.The channel reportedly broadcast news reports of the sex scandal allegedly involving JDS leader Prajwal Revanna. Indian Express