I&B Ministry bans MediaOne information channel once more, Kerala HC stays implementation of order for 2 days

By PTI

KOCHI: The Union Government on Monday barred the telecast of Malayalam information channel MediaOne citing “security reasons”, however the Kerala High Court stayed the implementation of the order for 2 days.

The Centre’s transfer drew the ire of many with the Opposition Congress social gathering terming the transfer as “undemocratic”.

“The telecast of MediaOne channel has once again been disallowed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, citing security reasons. The Government has not been forthcoming with the details,” Pramod Raman, the Editor of MediaOne, stated in an announcement right here.

When contacted, Information and Broadcasting ministry officers confirmed that the channel has been banned however didn’t share any additional particulars.

The media home challenged the order earlier than the Kerala High Court which placed on maintain its implementation for 2 days.

While placing on maintain the order, Justice N Nagaresh additionally sought the Centre’s stand on the plea moved by Madhyamam Broadcasting Ltd which operates MediaOne channel.

Senior advocate S Sreekumar and advocate Okay Rakesh, who represented the media group, advised the excessive court docket that the channel was not concerned in any anti-national exercise and urged it to direct the ministry to withdraw the order.

Speaking to PTI, Rakesh stated the ministry’s order was acquired round 1 PM on Monday and by 1.45 PM the plea was filed and by 3 PM permission was granted for pressing listening to of the matter.

He confirmed that the court docket placed on maintain the order until Wednesday, the subsequent date of listening to.

Assistant Solicitor General S Manu, who appeared for the ministry, stated he opposed the plea and sought time from the court docket to get applicable directions from the Centre.

Therefore, the court docket listed the matter on Wednesday and until then placed on maintain the implementation of the order, he added.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan slammed the I&B transfer.

“The banning of telecast of MediaOne channel without citing any reason was undemocratic. This is against natural justice. The Union government has a responsibility to cite the reason behind the ban. The government is trying to implement the agenda of Sangh Parivar which has been intolerant against unpleasant truths,” he stated.

He stated the ban quantities to assault on media freedom.

MediaOne, together with one other Malayalam News channel, Asianet, was briefly suspended for 48 hours over their protection of communal violence in Delhi in 2020, with the official orders then saying they coated the violence in a way that “highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community”.

“Channel’s reporting on Delhi violence seems to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters,” the ministry order on Media One had stated, including, “it additionally questions RSS and alleges Delhi Police inaction.

Channel appears to be essential in direction of Delhi Police and RSS.