Supreme Court to hear NDTV India appeal against ban today

The Supreme Court will on Monday hear the appeal filed by NDTV against the ban imposed on its NDTV India channel for airing security related information linked to the terrorist attack on the Pathankot air force base earlier this year. The apex court had earlier on November 6 deferred the hearing in the case to December 5, citing reason of no urgency for its hearing.

NDTV India was asked to go off-air on November 9 after the government accused it of broadcasting sensitive information related to the terror attack on Pathankot air force base in January. However, NDTV refuted the allegations stating that other channels had also reported the same.

Journalists and major media organisations condemned the ban and staged protest against it, comparing it with the time of the Emergency when the right of the freedom of press was violated.

However, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu supported the ban, saying it is in the interest of country's security.