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IN THE HIGH COURT OF AT DATED THIS THE 25 TH DAY OF AUGUST 2014 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR.D.H.WAGHELA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE ASHOK B. HINCHIGERI WRIT PETITION NO.21624/2014 (GM-RES-PIL)

BETWEEN :

AMRUTHESH N P AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS ADVOCATE - HIGH COURT NO.28 (103) 10TH MAIN J.C.NAGAR, KURUBARAHALLI BEHIND AMBEDKAR B.ED.COLLEGE BANGALORE-560086 ... PETITIONER

(BY SRI AMRUTHESH N P, ADV., PARTY-IN-PERSON)

AND :

1.THE STATE OF KARNATAKA VIDHANA SOUDHA DR.AMBEDKAR ROAD BANGALORE-560001 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY

2.THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF HOME VIDHANA SOUDHA DR.AMBEDKAR ROAD BANGALORE-560001

3.THE DIRECTOR GENERAL & INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE POLICE HEAD QUARTERS NRUPATHUNGA ROAD BANGALORE-560001 2

4.THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE BANGALORE CITY, INFANTRY ROAD BANGALORE-560001

5.UNION OF

(R-5 DELETED VIDE ORDER DATED 04.07.2014)

6.NEWS BROADCASTING STANDARD AUTHORITY

(R-6 DELETED VIDE ORDER DATED 04.07.2014)

7.THE PRESS COUNCIL OF INDIA

(R-7 DELETED VIDE ORDER DATED04.07.2014)

8.THE MANAGING DIRECTOR SUVARNA TV NEWS CHANNEL CRESCENT ROAD OPP:MALLIGE NURSING HOME BANGALORE-560001.

9.THE MANAGING DIRECTOR TV9-KARNATAKA NEWS CHANNEL NO.13, RHENIUS STREET RICHMOND TOWN, CIVIL STATION BAGALORE-560025.

10.THE MANAGING DIRECTOR SAMAYA TV NEWS CHANNEL KASTURBA ROAD BANGALORE-560001

11.THE MANAGING DIRECTOR KASTURI TV NEWS CHANNEL KASTURBA ROAD BANGALORE-560001.

12.THE MANAGING DIRECTOR JANASHREE TV NEWS CHANNEL BIG BAZAR BUILDING HOSUR ROAD, BANGALORE.

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13.THE MANAGING DIRECTOR ETV NEWS CHANNEL KCN BHAVAN, MADHAVNAGAR BANGALORE-560009.

14.THE MANAGING DIRECTOR PUBLIC TV NEWS CHANNEL BMTC COMPLEX, YESHWANTHPUR BANGALORE-560 022. ... RESPONDENTS

(BY SMT. SHWETA KRISHNAPPA, ADV. FOR R1-4 HCGP, R5 TO R7 DELETED V/O DATED 04.07.2014. SMT. NALINA MAYAGOWDA, ADV. FOR M/S. POOVAYYA & CO. FOR R8, SRI SUNIL, ADV. FOR R9, RESPONDENT NOS. 10-12, 14- SERVED, SMT. P.V. KALPANA, ADV. FOR R13)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT RESPONDENT NOS.8 TO 14, TV NEWS CHANNELS TO STOP AND RESTRAIN FROM DISPLAYING AND TELECASTING THE VIDEO FOOTAGE CLIPPINGS WHICH CONTAINS OBSCENE, UNCENSORED SCENES OF DEVISHRI RAMASWAMY IN THE INTEREST OF EQUITY AND JUSTICE AND ETC.,

THIS WRIT PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, CHIEF JUSTICE MADE THE FOLLOWING:

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ORDER

D.H.WAGHELA, CJ (Oral)

1. The petitioner, learned counsel practising in this

Court, has moved the present petition as a public interest litigation on the basis of the allegations that respondent

Nos.8 to 14 have been telecasting obscene video footages, not only once but repeating the same footages which puts the viewers to embarrassment, more particularly when the

TV channels are viewed by families sitting together.

2. Learned counsel for respondent Nos.8 and 13 have appeared and denied the allegations. Learned AGA appearing for respondent Nos.1 to 4 submitted that an authority is constituted under the auspices of the News

Broadcasters Association which has prescribed the Code of

Ethics and Broadcasting Standards and it is also empowered to take appropriate action, if any violation of the Court is brought to their notice by a complaint or otherwise.

3. Learned counsel Mr.Amruthesh submitted that,

“News Broadcasting Standards Authority” constituted by the News Broadcasters Association was also joined herein 5 as respondent No.6 and the matter is in fact required to be referred to that authority.

4. Accordingly, without entering into the allegations made in the petition and the defences proposed to be taken by the respondents concerned, by consent, copies of the petition along with the statement of objections and material placed on record on behalf of respondent No.8 are ordered to be forwarded to respondent No.6 herein for appropriate action. The Registry shall do the needful in this regard. It is needless to clarify that the respondents will be at liberty to place all their contentions before the authority, if and when required.

5. With this order, the petition is disposed, with no order as to cost.

Sd/- CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/- JUDGE

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