The Centre was today asked by the Delhi High Court not to take any action without giving three days time to Aastha channel for allegedly telecasting yoga guru Ramdev's political comments.
Justice V K Jain disposed of the plea filed Vedic Broadcasting Limited, the parent company of Aastha channel, against the government's show cause notice and directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that the TV channel be given three days notice before taking any action.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Rajevee Mehra, appearing for the Centre, however, opposed the plea saying no order has been passed on the issue and it is pre-mature to approach the court at this stage.
Appearing for the channel, Advocate Vivek Chib told the court that the company has come to know that subsequent to the show-cause notice, issued on November 15, 2012, the Ministry has decided to shut down broadcast of the religious channels soon.
The lawyer sought quashing of the show-cause notice against the channel.
On November 15 last year, the government had in its notice said the channel, being a non-news and current affairs TV channel, had telecast a programme namely "Swabhiman Sandesh" on November 8, 2012, wherein Ramdev had criticized the policies and programmes of the central government.
As per the notice, by telecasting the programmes of Ramdev who had criticised the policies of government, the petitioner company, being a non-news and current affairs TV channel, has "violated" the terms and conditions of its license.
