Allahabad High Court Puts Interim Stay On Release Of Al Jazeera Documentary In India

The Allahabad High Court has restrained Al Jazeera from "telecasting/broadcasting/releasing" a documentary titled 'India, Who Lit the Fuse?' until the matter is pending in the court.

The bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava also directed the Central government to take appropriate measures warranted in law to ensure that the film is not allowed to be telecast/broadcast unless its contents are examined by the authorities, duly constituted in law for the purpose, and necessary certification/authorisation is obtained from the competent authority.

The court has also directed the Centre, state government and Al Jazeera Media Network to respond to the PIL filed by Sudhir Kumar, a social activist.

The next hearing is scheduled for 6 July.

The petitioner said he learnt from print and social media reports that the film portrayed the Muslim minority of India as living in fear, and presented a disruptive narrative that was far from reality.

The petitioner also raised the apprehension that the telecast of the documentary without adhering to the constitutional and statutory safeguards might result in disturbing public order.

The petition also questioned the credibility of Al Jazeera, contending that the Qatar-based news channel acted in a partisan manner in the past and has been banned by several nations.

"It was banned for five days in 2015 in India for publishing vexatious and misleading information about the political map of India, showing integral parts of India to be parts of China and Pakistan," the petition added.

The Hight Court ordered a stay on the telecast of the documentary, considering its likely "evil consequences", till the issues raised in the petition are adjudicated.