HC Refuses Pre-Broadcast Injunction on Sudarshan TV’s ‘UPSC Jihad’

The Delhi HC had earlier stayed the airing of the show, which was supposed to broadcast on 28 August.

In a promo for a show to be aired on Friday, Noida-based Sudarshan News TV claimed to expose an alleged conspiracy behind how Muslims have ‘infiltrated’ the civil services.

(Photo: Aroop Mishra/The Quint)

The Delhi High Court on Friday, 11 September, refused to grant a pre-broadcast injunction on the controversial 'UPSC Jihad’ show on Sudarshan TV.

A petition was filed in the court by a student of Jamia Millia Islamia University, even after the I&B Ministry agreed to give permission for the show to broadcast.

Editor-in-chief of Sudarshan News, Suresh Chavhanke, took to Twitter to announce the HC's verdict:

"Satyameva Jayate! For the third time... The Delhi High Court has just said refused to grant a pre-broadcast injunction on 'Bindas Bol'. The Supreme Court and Indian government had already refused to grant such an injunction earlier. In spite of this, an alleged student of Jamia once again went to court. Now, #BindasBol will definitely air at 8 pm," Chavhanke wrote.

On 10 September, Chavhanke, had claimed that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had given him a go-ahead to air the show which will show how Muslims are 'infiltrating' the civil services, a 'phenomenon' dubbed as 'UPSC Jihad'.

The show, which was supposed to be broadcast on the channel on 28 August, was earlier stayed by the same Delhi High Court.

Tweeting about the news, Chavhanke said:

“Satyameva Jayate! The High Court had asked the Indian government’s opinion on the stay order on Sudarshan TV. The government has refused to put a pre-broadcast stay on the show. The Supreme Court had given the same decision earlier. Now on Friday (11 September) there will be a historic #BindasBol on #Naukarshahi_Jihad #UPSCJihad (sic).”

Suresh Chavhanke's tweet.Screenshot/Suresh Chavhanke/Twitter

At the same time that the high court stayed the broadcast of the show, the Supreme Court had declined a request for a pre-broadcast injunction, made by a lawyer in a separate petition before it.

Chavhanke, who has a record of spreading misleading and fake news, including with a communal slant, had put out a trailer for a series on this issue on his 'Bindas Bol' show, which was supposed to air from 8 pm, 28 August onwards. In the trailer, he said (translated to English):

“How come suddenly the number of Muslims has increased in IAS and IPS? What is the secret of them getting the highest marks and ranks in one of the toughest exams Imagine if the ‘jihadis of Jamia’ will be your district collectors and secretaries in ministries, what will happen then? Watch our biggest expose on ‘Naukarshahi jihad’ (bureaucracy jihad) this Friday.”

The promo had caused massive outrage with many asking for the show to not be allowed to air.