HC notice to Centre on banned Pakistan channels

New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the central government to respond to a petition that seeks adequate steps to stop the broadcast of banned Pakistani channels in India.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw asked Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain to apprise the court by April 15 of "steps taken by Centre on banned Pakistan channels as well as programmes available in India".

The court's direction came on a plea filed by Nishad Sharma, who said Pakistani channels which were banned by the government were being broadcast by Dish TV here without any permission from the government.

The plea said Dish TV provides channels which were "not in best interests of the country (India)", and asked the government to cancel the licences with respect to all the channels being aired by Dish TV.

"The government had banned the channels (Pakistani channels) for inciting religious tension and breaking national harmony of the country (India)," the plea said.

It named 16 Pakistani channels which were being broadcast in the country "illegally".

These channels include PTV Home, Hum TV, Film Azia, Khyber TV, Express Entertainment and Ariana TV, among others.

It also asked the court to impose rigid rules pertaining to channels being aired throughout the country.