New Delhi: The Allahabad high court on Wednesday, June 14, “restrained” Al Jazeera from telecasting, broadcasting or releasing the news documentary India… Who lit the Fuse? until the issues raised in a petition “are adjudicated” after notice to the Doha-based broadcaster. The high court, considering “the evil consequences” that are likely to occur on the telecast or broadcast of the film in question, has deferred the telecast pending consideration of the petition.

The court has also directed the Union government and the authorities constituted under it “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 Union and state governments have been directed to “secure social harmony and protect the security and interest of the Indian State.”

A petition filed by one Sudhir Kumar, who claims to be “a public-spirited person and a social activist”, has cited detailed reasons for asking for the documentary to be barred by the court from being aired by Al Jazeera. Among them are principally, that it is “likely to create hatred amongst different religious denominations and thereby destroy the secular fabric of the Indian State. The Film also has the potential to create social unrest and disturb public order, decency and morality.”

While The Wire was unable to verify the content of the documentary, the petitioner claims that he has “reliably learnt” from print and social media reports that the film portrays the “Muslim minority of [India] living with a sense of fear and presents a disruptive narrative creating a sense of public hatred, which is far from reality”. The petitioner claims that the film “negatively portrays” the political functionaries of the Indian state and projects them as acting detrimental to the interest of minorities.

Significantly, the counsel appearing for the Union of India did not dispute the legal submissions made on behalf of the petitioner. He did not refute the fact “that necessary certification has not been obtained”.

The bench consisting of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava heard arguments from the petitioner that Al Jazeera is only a news organisation but it has “exceeded its ambit” so as to broadcast films. This, the petitioner argued, was with the singular intention of creating distress and endangering the public order in the country. It also said that the film proposes to publicise distorted versions of facts to create disharmony amongst the citizens of the country who belong to different religious denominations…

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