MIB suspends channel MediaOne, Kerala HC temorarly differs ban

After the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry barred popular Malayalam news channel MediaOne, the Kerala High Court on Monday temporarily deferred the order till the next date of hearing. The case will be heard next on Wednesday. Earlier, the ministry of information and broadcasting has imposed a ban on Media One channel for 48 hours on charges of violating Cable Television Networks Act 1998, while reporting on riots in north-east Delhi. Malayalam television channel MediaOne TV, has gone off air again after its name was removed from list of permitted channels by the ministry. “The ministry says the ban was due to security reasons. MIB denied permission for the channel's renewal of license after the "Union home ministry's refusal to give security clearance". According to the I&B norms, uplinking and downlinking need to get security clearance from the Home Ministry, the official said. 

This is the second time MediaOne has been barred. In March 2020, the Centre imposed a ban on the channel for 48 hours on charges of violating Cable Television Networks Act 1998. The channel, controlled by the Jamat-e-Islami.We are yet to get details. We hope justice will prevail and we will be able to start our transmission soon,” he said. Many journalists’ organisations and the opposition Congress slammed the move.