NEW DELHI :The Delhi high court on Friday restrained Sudarshan TV from telecasting its programme titled ‘Bindas Bol’, whose latest promo claimed that the channel was all set to broadcast a ‘big expose on conspiracy to infiltrate Muslims in government service’. The show was scheduled to air tonight at 8 pm.
The stay order was passed by a single-judge bench of Justice Navin Chawla, on a plea filed by the students of Jamia Millia Islamia. Justice Navin Chawla issued a notice and sought responses of the Central government, the Union Public Service Commission, Sudarshan TV, and its head, Suresh Chavhanke, on a petition filed by former and present students of Jamia Millia Islamia University. The high court listed the matter for further hearing on September 7.
The plea contended that the proposed broadcast sought to defame, attack and incite hatred against Jamia Millia Islamia, its alumni, and the Muslim community at large. The trailer of the show dropped on Thursday, garnering 1.5 million views on Twitter and a barrage of criticism and support.
The promo of the show shared by the channel’s editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke with hashtag ‘UPSC Jihad’ has attracted criticism from several quarters. On August 26, Chavhanke had tweeted the trailer of his upcoming show, which he claimed was an “expose” on the “infiltration of Muslims” in the Civil Services.
In the video, he called those passing out of Jamia’s Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) and clearing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as “Jamia ke Jihadi”.

On Thursday, Jamia Millia Islamia wrote to the Union Education Ministry asking them to take action against Sudarshan News channel and its editor-in-chief Chavhanke for “tarnishing” the image of the university.
Jamia V-C Najma Akhtar told that the university is not likely to go to court over the issue. She also said Chavhanke had given a new “secular definition” of jihadi: “We don’t want to give them too much importance.
As far as our students are concerned, 30 students from RCA were selected this time out of which 16 are Muslims and 14 are Hindus. Since they were all called jihadis, it means 16 were Muslim jihadis and 14 others were Hindu jihadis. India has been given a new secular definition of jihadis.”
Responding to the allegations, Chavhanke had said he would say what he has to on his show on Friday night. “I don’t know if there are Hindus (in RCA). Those opposing the word jihadi should first answer if they think it is an abuse.

I maintain my stand and want to ask how their (Muslim) numbers are increasing in civil services. It’s because of them being given back door favour, option of choosing Islamist studies, Urdu language, etc. If my show is found unconstitutional or doesn’t meet the standard of broadcast authority, then let there be action against me.”

The IPS Association also termed the show “irresponsible”. “A news story targeting candidates in civil services on the basis of religion is being promoted by Sudarshan TV. We condemn the communal and irresponsible piece of journalism,” the association tweeted.
Meanwhile, Jamia Millia Islamia Thursday wrote to the Union Education Ministry asking them to take action against Sudarshan News channel and its editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke for “tarnishing” the image of the university.

“We have written to the Education Ministry informing them about the whole episode and requested them to take appropriate action. We told them that Sudarshan channel has not only tried to tarnish the image of JMI and a particular community but the image of UPSC also,” said Jamia PRO Ahmed Azeem.
Meanwhile, LiveLaw has reported that a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and with Justice K.M. Joseph in it, has “desisted from imposing a pre-broadcast interlocutory injunction on the basis of an unverified transcript of a 49-second clip”.The apex court was hearing a plea by lawyer Rashid Azam.
Jamia V-C Najma Akhtar told The Indian Express that the university is not likely to go to court over the issue. She also said Chavhanke had given a new “secular definition” of jihadi: “We don’t want to give them too much importance.

As far as our students are concerned, 30 students from RCA were selected this time out of which 16 are Muslims and 14 are Hindus. Since they were all called jihadis, it means 16 were Muslim jihadis and 14 others were Hindu jihadis. India has been given a new secular definition of jihadis.”
The Jamia Teachers’ Association has demanded that a criminal defamation suit be filed by the administration against “anti-Indian and anti-JMI remarks by traitor Suresh Chavhanke”. “A number of derogatory words have been used by the said CMD of Sudarshan News which openly instigates, spewing venom against fellow citizens, and trying to divide people of India,” JTA said.
Responding to the allegations, Chavhanke said he will say what he has to on his show which airs Friday night: “I don’t know if there are Hindus (in RCA). Those opposing the word jihadi should first answer if they think it is an abuse. I maintain my stand and want to ask how their (Muslim) numbers are increasing in civil services.
It’s because of them being given back door favour, option of choosing Islamist studies, Urdu language, etc. If my show is found unconstitutional or doesn’t meet the standard of broadcast authority, then let there be action against me.”

Despite the Delhi HC putting a stay on the broadcast, Sudarshan News chief editor Suresh Chavhanke has taken to Twitter to inform that the channel will be sticking to the schedule and the said program on UPSC Jihad will be aired at 8 pm today.
He said that though people have been posting on social media that the Delhi HC has stayed the program on Sudarshan News that was scheduled to be aired at 8 PM today, the channel has not officially received any such order from the HC, therefore the show will be broadcasted tonight at 8 pm as per scheduled.
(With Agency Inputs ).

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