The Delhi High court on Wednesday rejected a plea by broadcaster Star India to allow screening of the second season of controversial TV reality show 'Sach Ka Saamna' scheduled to go on the air from first week of April.
Justice S Muralidhar refused to stay the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's order of November 27, 2009, which had held Star guilty of programe code under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, while airing 'Sach Ka Saamna'.
Requesting the court to stay the government's order, senior advocate Ramji Srinivasan, appearing for Star TV, said the broadcast major has already planned to air 'Sach Ka Saamna' again.
Rejecting it, Justice Muralidhar said "there is an inter -ministerial committee looking into it. Let's see what they decide ... what the committee recommends ... after that you (Star) would be given full time to defend yourself".
On this, Atul Jain, counsel appearing for the government, informed the court that the committee has already taken a decision and held that some portions of the controversial programme was breaching the norms.
Star further informed the court that it has already planned slots for it and if not given permission to air, it will land in difficulty.
"No, no ... all business houses plans perfectly. They always have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C etc," the court said declining the Star's request.
Over Star's plea of urgency, the court said it approached late. "If you should be really aggreived, then you should have come here the morning after the government's order".
The court also directed the Star and the governmet to complete their pleadings and listed the matter on April 20 for next hearing.
The controversial show poses a series of mostly personal questions to contestants who are put through a lie-detector test to ascertain if the answers they are giving are true.
A number of social organisations have alleged the show is detrimental to Indian family values. PTI
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