SC Agrees To Hear On Feb 6 PIL Challenging 'Ban' On BBC Documentary On 2002 Gujarat Riots

The Supreme Court agreed to hear a PIL seeing to quash the Centre's order banning on controversial BBC documentary 'India: The Modi Question'.

File Photo of the Supreme Court: SC agreed to list on February 6 a PIL against the Centre's decision to ban a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear the petition challenging the Centre's decision to ban the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots on February 6.

The PIL has been filed by advocate ML Sharma in the Supreme Court asking to quash the order dated January 21, 2023, of the Ministry of the Information and Broadcasting and termed the ban "malafide, arbitrary and unconstitutional."

Sharma requested the top court to call and examine the BBC documentary, both parts I and II, and take action against people who were responsible and were involved directly and indirectly with the 2002 Gujarat riots, reported news agency PTI.

In his PIL, Sharma has raised a constitutional question and the top court has to decide whether citizens have the right under Article 19 (1) (2) to see news, facts and reports on the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The plea said whether the central government can curtail freedom of the press which is a fundamental right as guaranteed under Article 19 (1) (2) of the Constitution.

"Whether without having an Emergency declared under Article 352 of the Constitution of India by the president, Emergency provisions can be invoked by the central government?" the PIL said, as per the report.

The plea also claimed the BBC documentary has "recorded facts" which are also "evidence" and can be used in order to ensure justice for the victims.

On January 21, the Centre issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial BBC documentary "India: The Modi Question", the report said quoting its sources.

The BBC documentary, "India: The Modi Question," triggered controversy after the government denounced it as a "propaganda piece" designed to push a discredited narrative. The government has also taken steps to remove the documentary from various social media platforms such as Twitter and YouTube.

The controversy has deepened after members of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) alleged that a power outage occurred during a screening of the documentary on their campus.

The documentary has led to accusations by the opposition that the government is restricting freedom of speech, despite the government's claim that it is a "propaganda piece."