Apprehensions Expressed: Allahabad High Court Restrains Airing of Al Jazeera's Documentary

The Allahabad High Court has issued an order to Al Jazeera Media Network Private Ltd, preventing them from airing the documentary film titled 'India...Who Lit The Fuse'. The order is in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed before the court. The PIL, filed by Sudhir Kumar, alleges that the documentary intentionally aims to create division between India's largest religious communities.

The court, comprised of Justices Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Ashutosh Srivastava, granted an interim stay on the film's release. They noted that the concerns expressed in the PIL are not baseless or unfounded, based on the examination of the petition and relevant constitutional and statutory provisions. The court also directed the Central Government and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ensure that the film is not broadcasted or telecasted without proper examination and authorization from the competent authority.

The court emphasized that the Union and State Government authorities should support the aforementioned directions to maintain social harmony, protect the security, and safeguard the interests of the Indian state. The PIL has been scheduled for admission and hearing on July 6, 2023.

Sudhir Kumar, a social activist and the petitioner, approached the high court seeking a restraining order against Al Jazeera. The petitioner claimed that the documentary portrays the Muslim minority in India as living in fear. The petitioner alleged that the film presents a distorted narrative and incites public hatred, which deviates from the actual reality.

The petitioner further asserted that the film portrays political figures of the Indian state in a negative light, suggesting that they act against the interests of minorities. The petitioner claimed that the film aims to spread disharmony among citizens by distorting facts.

The petitioner also highlighted that Al Jazeera has faced bans in several countries and has previously exhibited biased behavior. Based on these submissions, the court concluded that considering the potential negative consequences of broadcasting the film, its release should be deferred until the issues raised in the PIL are examined.

As Al Jazeera was not represented in court and the film was not available for review, the high court directed the petitioner to serve notice to Al Jazeera within 48 hours. The court also requested responses from all the respondent parties by the next hearing date.