The bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli said that freedom of press, which is protected under Article 19(1)(a), was “trumped” by not providing Media One a reasonable avenue to challenge the decision.
In this instance, as in so many others, the Supreme Court has moved the needle for greater openness and more freedom, without which both justice and democracy are incomplete.
“There is no explanation of what weighed in the mind of the court leading it to hold that the denial of clearance was justified despite observing that the nature and gravity of the issue is not discernible,” the court said.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the practice of filing sealed cover reports in courts and said it violates both principles of natural justice and open justice.
In quashing ban on TV channel, apex court makes key observations on role of the press in a democracy, and underlines principles of natural and open justice.