BREAKING| Supreme Court Issues Notice In Plea Challenging Ban On Live Telecast of Pran Pratishtha In State of TN; Records Statement That No Such Orders Passed By Authorities

The Supreme Court has issued notice on the plea seeking lifting of ban on the live-telecast of the occassion of "Pran Pratishtha" of Lord Sri Ram at Ayodhya today, across the State of Tamil Nadu run by DMK.

The authorities, however, at the outset denied to have passed any such oral orders restricting the live-telecast.

As per the plea the government has also banned all kind of Poojas, Archana, and Annadanam (poor feeding) bhajans on the occassion. The plea further says that such arbitrary exercise of powers by the State Government (through police officials) per se violates fundamental rights guranteed under the Constitution of India.

The plea reads, "unless there is immediate judicial intervention by this Hon'ble Court there will be law and order problem and failure of constitutional machinery".

At the outset counsel appearing for the State of Tamil Nadu submitted, "I don’t have a copy of the petition, but my instructions are that there are no restrictions that has been placed or will be placed". My instruction is also "…that It is politically motivated"

Consequentially, recording the statements of the respondents, a bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta observed, "...The allegations in the petition is that oral orders have been issued to ban live-telecast, performance of Pooja and Archana, Annadanam, bhajans on the occasion of Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram at Ayodhya today i.e. January 22, 2024. Reliance is placed on some documents which have been enclosed as Annexures in support of the said contention. Counsels present on advance notice state that no such order has been issued and that there is no ban on the live-telecast...on the occasion of Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram at Ayodhya. The said statement is taken on record. We believe the authorities will act in accordance with law and not on the basis of any oral instructions as noted above which has been clearly stated by that have been claimed by Respondents 2-4. The authorities while reviewing any application will act in accordance with law. Authorities will also maintain data on receipts of requests. While examining such applications the authorities will keep relevant parameters as set by this Court. The respondents will also examine the reasons given for rejection of the prayers made while documents enclosed as Annexures P2".

Senior Advocate Dama Sheshadri Naidu appeared for the petitioner.

Cause Title: Vinoj v. Union of India and Ors.