SC notice to centre over 4PM editor-in-chief’s plea

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the centre on a plea filed by Sanjay Sharma against the blocking of his YouTube channel 4PM on purported grounds of national security and public order, LiveLaw reported.

Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said that no notice was issued to the petitioner. The court listed the matter for next week after issuing a notice to the centre and YouTube.

The channel was banned in India last week because of a government order linked to “national security or public order”. The channel’s owner and editor-in-chief Sanjay Sharma said he had received an email from YouTube on Tuesday morning about the channel being closed as per the government’s directions. Sharma said he is concerned about national security and was only asking the government questions. It is not immediately clear what triggered the government request.

The Digital Media Publishers and Journalists Association had condemned the “undemocratic” banning of YouTube channel 4PM.

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