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A letter to Rajnath Singh, Minister for Home Affairs, IBF president and CEO of Star India, Uday Shankar also requested the Ministry to evolve a process that is well targeted, transparent, least interventionist, more facilitative and non restrictive, in connection with the security clearance to broadcasters.
Stating that the denial of necessary clearances to Sun Network is not based on principles of natural justice or in keeping it with the constitutional mandate of Freedom of Speech and Expression amont others, Shankar said, "IBF therefore would like to categorically state that Sun Network despite pending cases also has a right to operate its business and the denial of renewal of license on the basis of security clearance is unwarranted and unjustifiable."
The basis idea of security clearance with regard to television channels is to ensure that broadcasting companies who apply for such licenses are not involved in any anti-national or subversive activity which is certainly not the case with the Sun Group. The entire process of security clearance is a hangover of Government's fear of the unknown, he commented.
"In IBF's considered view the entire requirement of periodic security clearances and the process involved in securing such clearances is unduly cumbersome and is one of the most stringent barriers to entry causing immense unease of doing business in India in so far as the broadcasting sector is concerned," he said.
The stand taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Sun Network matter is completely in contrast with the new business friendly policy mooted by the government.
The refusal of security clearance would lead to closure of the 33 television channels of Sun TV, which has a reach of more than 95 million households and would affect the lives of its employees, apart from the indirect impact on the lives of a large number of producers, technicians and other creative staff. The Foundation also said that the move would seem vindictive and motivated especially when this is done at a stage when preliminary investigations are continuing and no culpability has been established by a competent court of law.
Given the bureaucratic and regulatory environment in the country, it is not unusual for business houses to face investigations on the alleged violations, but they were never been debarred from conducting their normal, day to day business, said the Foundation.
It may be noted that Sun TV Network has been facing the regulatory challenge, where the Ministry of Home Affairs reportedly refused to give license to the company, as its promoter Kalanithi Maran and his brother and former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran are facing probe by agencies related to the alleged Aircel-Maxis deal.
