New Delhi, Feb.10: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a complete ban on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and BBC India from operating in Indian territory.
The PIL was filed amid the controversy surrounding a two-part BBC documentary titled, “India: The Modi Question”, which is related to the 2002 Gujarat riots.
An apex court bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and M.M. Sundresh dismissed the petition filed by right-wing Hindu Sena’s president Vishnu Gupta as “absolutely misconceived”.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s advocate Pinky Anand said: “Kindly see the background when the documentary happened. Today, you have a position… when you have an Indian as the Prime Minister of UK. India is rising as an economic power.”
Justice Khanna replied: “How can this be argued? You want us to put complete censorship? What is this?”
Anand then requested the bench to post the matter, along with other petitions which have challenged the Centre’s order blocking public access to the documentary, Media reported.
The bench did not agree and dismissed the petition, saying it was misconceived and had no merit.
