New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked a petitioner to make a representation before the Centre on his plea seeking mandatory sanction from concerned authorities before registration of FIRs against journalists and media houses.
A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde heard through video-conferencing the plea filed by advocate Ghanshyam Upadhyay, who claimed that some news channels are being targeted and a number of FIRS are being lodged in different states to snub their voices.
The bench said that the matter would be decided by the government, and the court will not be issuing any order.
The petition sought the court's direction that no FIR be registered and no prosecution be launched against media and scribes for offences punishable under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 500 (punishment for defamation) and 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth etc), on the basis of news published or telecast unless sanction has been granted by the PCI or judicial authority nominated by the apex court.
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The petition said that citizens are entitled to receive complete, uncut and truthful information, analysis, especially concerning issues affecting and impacting sovereignty and integrity of India.
(With inputs from PTI)
