Less than two weeks after the Delhi High Court stayed the broadcast of a controversial and communal programme on Sudarshan TV, the information and broadcasting ministry gave clearance for the show's broadcast. The show, titled "UPSC Jihad", will be broadcast at 8 pm on Friday.

"UPSC Jihad" is purportedly an "exposé" on the increase in the number of Muslims who qualified the civil services exam in 2020. A trailer for the show referred to Jamia Millia Islamia's students as "jihadis" trying to "infiltrate" the civil services.

The channel's editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke announced on Twitter that the broadcast would take place.

However, the ministry asked the channel to ensure that the show "is not violative of the law", LiveLaw reported. The ministry also said in its notification that Sudarshan TV "is hereby directed that the proposed programme to be telecast does not violate any of the programme codes", and "action as per law will be taken" if the codes are violated.

The Delhi High Court had stayed the broadcast of the show on August 28 after a group of students from Jamia Milia Islamia University filed a petition citing security concerns, including the threat of lynching. The Supreme Court had refused to impose a pre-telecast ban on the show and had sought the Centre’s opinion in the matter.

After the court's order, Sudarshan TV aired a show on how they weren't allowed to air a show — basically how Chavhanke had been wronged. The programme had sufficient nudge nudge, wink wink, “Muslims bad, Hindus good” moments too. Read all about it here.

***

The media must be free and fair, uninfluenced by corporate or state interests. That's why you, the public, need to pay to keep news free. Support independent media by subscribing to Newslaundry today.