Ban On BBC Documentary On PM Modi: SC To Hear Petition On Feb 6; What Kiren Rijiju Said

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear a petition challenging ban on the BBC documentary on PM Modi. The court will hear the matter on February 6. 

On January 21, the Central government banned the controversial BBC documentary "India: The Modi Question" in the country. However, student organizations in several educational institutions have raised hue and cry over the screening of the documentary, leading to controversy.

The petitioner ML Sharma on Monday appealed for an early hearing of the case before a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. After this, the court directed to list it.

Constitutional question raised in PIL

Advocate ML Sharma has raised a constitutional question in his PIL. In the petition, he has urged the apex court to decide whether citizens have a right under Article 19(1) and (2) of the Constitution to see news, facts and reports on the 2002 Gujarat riots.

In the petition, Sharma has termed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's January 21, 2023 order banning the BBC documentary as illegal, malicious, arbitrary and unconstitutional. Also sought a direction to cancel it. His petition asks whether the Central Government can curb the freedom of the press which is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19(1)(2) of the Constitution.

Can emergency provisions be invoked?

It also states that 'can emergency provisions be invoked by the central government without the President declaring emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution of India?' The senior advocate has claimed that the BBC documentary contains 'recorded facts'. These facts can be used to further the cause of justice for the victims.

Waste of court's time: Kiren Rijiju  

The Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has made a scathing comment on the petitions filed against the BBC documentary ban in the Supreme Court. He has said these people waste the precious time of the Hon'ble Supreme Court where thousands of common citizens are waiting for dates for justice. Journalist N Ram, Advocate Prashant Bhushan, TMC MP Mahua Moitra have also moved the Supreme Court on this matter.