The Supreme Court on Monday barred the Andhra Pradesh police from taking any coercive action against two Telugu news stations, TV5 and ABN Andhra Jyothi, for allegedly sedition in airing YSR rebel MP K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju’s “offensive” statements.
According to a report in The Live Law, the channels have filed writ petitions seeking the quashing of the FIR as well as contempt petitions, arguing that the Andhra Police action is a violation of an earlier SC order prohibiting citizens from being arrested or prosecuted for airing grievances about Covid-19 issues.
Senior attorneys Shyam Divan and Sidharth Luthra representing the two stations argued that the FIRs were filed for publicising the comments of rebel leader and MP Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju, according to the article.
A special court led by Justice DY Cyhandrachud demanded that the state government respond within four weeks to the channels’ appeals for numerous offences, including the heinous crime of sedition. The bench, which included justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat, further stated that no coercive action will be taken against news channel personnel or personnel in connection with the same FIR.
“It is time we define the limits of sedition,” Justice DY Chandrachud observed.
Senior attorneys Shyam Divan and Sidharth Luthra representing the two stations argued that the FIRs were filed for publicising the comments of rebel leader and MP Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju, according to the article.
A special court led by Justice DY Cyhandrachud demanded that the state government respond within four weeks to the channels’ appeals for numerous offences, including the heinous crime of sedition. The bench, which included justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat, further stated that no coercive action will be taken against news channel personnel or personnel in connection with the same FIR.
