Colors TV Heaves A Sigh of Relief As Punjab & Haryana High Court Quashes FIR Filed Against it in 2019
(Judicial Quest News Network)
In a significant development the Punjab & Haryana High Court has quashed the FIR filed against Color TV and the actors and producers of the show ‘Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush’ registered by Jalahandhar Police in 2019.The Criminal case was registered on the complaint of one Rajeev Gora, who had alleged that portrayal of Valmiki in the serial offended the Scheduled Caste Community.
A division bench of Justice Deepak Gupta quashed the FIR as it emerged that in October, 2019, during the course of subsequent hearings that took place, this Court was apprised that the State Government had taken a conscious decision to set up a Committee to examine the entire issue and which was chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Home and had other members including the Chairman, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, DGP (Intelligence), Secretary (Public Relations), Representatives of Advocate General, Punjab and the Chairman (Safai Karmchari Commission, Punjab).
Apparently, deliberations were held by the Committee on different dates in which representatives of the petitioner party also participated.
On 25.09.2019, the following order was passed by this Court:
“During the course of hearing today, Court has been apprised that vide order dated 24.09.2019 issued from the office of the Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab, Department of Home Affairs and Justice, a Committee stands constituted to frame a set of guidelines
The court was hearing the plea to quash the FIR filed under Sections 295-A and 34 of IPC against the Colors TV channel, actors and producers of the show.
The Portrayal of Valmiki in the serial had resulted in widespread protest across the State, and in some districts, telecast of the serial had to be suspended. Subsequently a criminal case was registered on the complaint against makers and Colors TV on August 23, 2019.
A five members committee was constitutes by the State to examine the issue and to frame a set of guidelines to be provided to Colors TV regarding “Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush” the producers of the show took the requisite undertaking to follow the guide lines and take corrective steps.
Therefore, the ban was set aside by the High Court.
While allowing the plea and quashing the FIR, the Court observed.
“Keeping in view all the aforesaid circumstances, FIR No.92 Dated 23.08.2019, registered at Police Station Commissionerate, Jalandhar, District Jalandhar, under Section 295-A and 34 of IPC (Annexure P-1) and all the consequent proceedings, are hereby quashed”
Advocates Abhinav Sood and Anmol Gupta appeared for the petitioners
