Punjab & Haryana High Court Quashes FIR Filed Against Colors TV, Others For 'Hurting Sentiments' Of Valmiki Community In ‘Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush’

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has quashed the FIR filed in 2019 against Colors TV and the actors and producers of the show 'Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush' for allegedly portraying a wrong image of Bhagwan Valmiki and hurting religious sentiments of the community.

The court took note of the order passed in October 2019, wherein the ban on the show was set aside after the producers provided the requisite undertaking to take “corrective measures.” 

“However, statement is made by learned counsel for respondent No.2 (complainant) before this Court that he has no objection to the quashing of the FIR in question, in view of the order dated 17.10.2019 passed in CWP-25291-2019 (O&M),” said Justice Deepak Chopra.

The court was hearing the plea to quash the FIR filed under Sections Section 295-A and 34 of IPC against the Colors TV channel, actors and producers of the show.

The FIR was filed alleging that "the serial is portraying wrong facts about Bhagwan Valmiki Ji" which had hurt the religious sentiments of the Valmiki community. Subsequently, the show was suspended following the order of the District Magistrate, Kapurthala, purportedly exercising the powers conferred by Section 19 of the Cable Television Network (Regulations) Act, 1995.

A five member committee was constituted by the State to examine the issue and to frame a set of guidelines to be provided to Colors TV regarding  “Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush”. The producers of the show took the requisite undertaking to follow the guideline and take corrective steps. Therefore, the ban was set aside by the High Court.

While allowing the plea and quashing the FIR, the Court said, “Keeping in view all the aforesaid circumstances, FIR No.92 dated 23.08.2019, registered at Police Station Commissionerate, Jalandhar, District Jalandhar, under Section 295-A and 34 of IPC (Annexure P-1) and all the consequent proceedings, are hereby quashed.”

Case Title: Rahul Kumar Tewary and others v. State of Punjab and another

Appearance: Abhinav Sood and Anmol Gupta, Advocates for the petitioners.

R.S. Khaira, DAG, Punjab.

Rahul Kumar, Advocate for respondent No.2.

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