SC seeks Centre's response on media lay-offs, salary cuts

The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre over a PIL filed against media houses who either terminated their employees or did not provide them with their salaries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Central government and others on public interest litigation (PIL) against the lay-offs and salary cuts in the media industry due to the ongoing lockdown.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice NV Ramana and comprising of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice BR Gavai issued notices to the Union of India (UoI), Indian Newspaper Society (INS) and News Broadcasters Association (NBA), and slated the matter for after two weeks.

Advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioners, said that we heard that the jobs of journalists were being terminated.

"Let the government respond," the bench said, to which Solicitor General Tushar Mehra sought a copy of the petition. These are the matter which requires a hearing, Justice Ramana said.

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The PIL was jointly filed by National Alliance of Journalists, Delhi Union of Journalists and Brihan Mumbai Union of Journalists, who challenged the termination notices, salary cuts, unpaid leaves by certain media houses to its employees.

They sought the suspension of such termination notices and payment of salaries. They had asked the Centre, Indian Newspaper Society and the News Broadcaster Association to ensure that media houses do not misuse the pandemic period and take action against media houses who are laying off the employees.

(With inputs from ANI)