SC issues notice to Centre over pleas challenging blocking of BBC documentary

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre on pleas challenging its decision to block BBC documentary India: The Modi Question. 

A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Justice M.M. Sundresh issued notices to the government and others on the pleas filed by veteran journalist N. Ram, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

The bench also directed the Centre to produce original records of the take down order. The matter is listed for next hearing in April.

The petition by N. Ram, Prashant Bhushan and Mahua Moitra argues that the Centre has violated citizens' Right To Know' by blocking the documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots, Live Law reported.

The plea sought to quash all orders block the online access to the documentary.

It claimed that the BBC documentary has "recorded facts" which are also "evidence" and can be used to further the cause of justice for the victims. Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, however, attacked the petitioners for "wasting precious time" of the top court.

On January 21, the Centre issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial documentary.

The documentary was screened by students' unions at many universities including Hyderabad Central University (HCU), Delhi University and Jadavpur University amid protests.