[LIVE UPDATES] SC Hearing On Plea Against Sudarshan TV's 'UPSC Jihad' Show

Mehta: As the parent Act had no penalty, the Rules couldn’t be made. Now the Central Government has come up with a legislation which is available in public domain. This has five different kinds of penalties. This is at a stage of inviting public comments.

Mehta: I took instructions on this. Every district collector has been informed to give it wide publicity.

So far as framing of the Rules is concerned, it was found that there must be a penalty.

Justice Chandrachud poses a question to the SG about the judgement in Common Cause.

SG Mehta: I have understood there are two directions that people are not aware of the system. 

Justice Chandrachud: We don’t want to do the work of a Censor Board. You know, such as “Beep, Beep, Beep”.

SG Mehta: We all know what the Beep means !

Justice Malhotra: Some of these images were offensive to us as well. These flames and 500 crore, they were hurtful to us as well ! These have to be taken down. 

Justice Chandrachud: Tell us what you feel about national security. As judges we are also concerned about national security. But, we have to protect human dignity as well. 

Justice Chandrachud: Tell us what you propose to do. Let Mr. Chavhanke tell us how plans to approach this. Let a message go to the media that we need to fight for a nation that is inclusive, that is able.

Justice Chandrachud: Let the marketplace of ideas flourish in India. We know what happened during the Emergency. But, we have the constitutional duty to protect human dignity and that is as important as protecting free speech. 

Justice Chandrachud: Without the Court telling you what to do, we want you to tell us what you’ll do to assuage our concerns. We don’t want stuff like we detect something and then you remove it. 

Divan: I will do my best, but I don’t think this should be in the order. Constitutional courts should not say “Do X, Do Y.” I will convey this to the Editor. But, if you still find that there are corrections that are required, we will revisit it.