SC to hear challenge to BBC docu-series ‘India: The Modi Question’ in January

Supreme Court sets date to challenge government's ban on BBC documentary 'India: The Modi Question' in January 2025.

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 21, 2024) fixed in the second week of January 2025 a challenge to the government’s decision to block the screening of a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary series titled ‘India: The Modi Question’.

A Bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna had issued formal notice to the Union of India through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Twitter Communications India Private Limited and Google India Private Limited over a year ago, on February 3 last year. The court had listed the case in April then.

However, on Monday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, said he had “just realised” that the Centre was yet to file its counter to the petitions filed by senior journalist N. Ram, Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra and advocate Prashant Bhushan.

The petitions had highlighted the citizens’ “fundamental right to view, form an informed opinion, critique, report on and lawfully circulate the contents of the documentary as right to freedom of speech and expression incorporates the right to receive and disseminate information”.

Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate CU Singh, strongly objected to the government’s lapse in filing its counter even as Mr. Mehta sought more time to file its response.

Mr. Singh said the court need not wait for the government reply as the case concerned a “take-down” order against the documentary.

Justice Khanna said the court wanted the benefit of the government’s response and gave the Centre three weeks to file its counter and two weeks for the petitioners to file their rejoinder, if any.