Allahabad HC Grants Further 4 Weeks Time To UOI, CBFC To File Reply In PIL Against Al Jazeera's Documentary 'India: Who Lit The Fuse'

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted a further 4 weeks' time to the Union of India, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Central Board of Film Certification as well as Al Jazeera Media Network Private Ltd. to file their counter affidavit in a PIL plea challenging the broadcast/release of the documentary film "India....Who lit the Fuse?" in India.The film, produced by the Qatar-based international news network, has been challenged by social activist Sudhir Kumar on the ground that the telecast of the said film has the potential to cause disharmony amongst the citizens and threaten the integrity of the Nation.Hearing the PIL plea on June 14, the High Court restrained Al Jazeera from telecasting/broadcasting/releasing the Film in question in India in view of ‘evil consequences’ that are likely to occur if the telecast/broadcast of the film is allowed to take place.The bench of Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava also directed the Central Government and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to take appropriate measures to ensure that the film is not allowed to be telecast/broadcast unless its contents are examined by the authorities, and necessary certification/authorisation is obtained from the competent authority.Averments in the PIL PleaThe PIL plea alleges that the release/broadcast of the film is likely to create hatred amongst different religious denominations and thereby destroy the secular fabric of the Indian State and has the potential to create social unrest and disturb public order, decency and morality.Averments are also made in the PIL plea to the effect that Al Jazeera is only a news organization, still, it has exceeded its ambit so as to broadcast films, a position as investigations on its news channel with the singular intention of creating distress and endangering the public order in the country.The petitioner also stated that the Film purposefully seeks to create a rift between India’s largest religious communities through its disruptive narrative and create a sense of public hatred.It also submits that the film proposes to publicize distorted versions of facts to create disharmony amongst the citizens of the Country who belong to different religious denominations.Lastly, it was submitted that no certificate had been obtained by Al Jazeera for the broadcast of the film in question from the competent authority under the applicable enactments. This averment was also not disputed by the Counsel for the Union of India.Read High Court’s June 14 order here: Allahabad HC Puts Interim Stay On Broadcast Of Al Jazeera's Documentary 'India: Who Lit The Fuse' In India In View Of Probable 'Evil Consequences'AppearancesCounsel for Petitioner: Krishna Mohan Tripathi Counsel for Respondent: A.S.G.I.,C.S.C.,Gaurav Kumar Chand Case title - Sudhir Kumar vs. Union Of India And 4 Others [PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) No. - 1407 of 2023]Click Here To Read/Download Order

Allahabad HC Grants Further 4 Weeks Time To UOI, CBFC To File Reply In PIL Against Al Jazeera's Documentary 'India: Who Lit The Fuse'

Sparsh Upadhyay

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