Supreme Court Demands Records on Blocked BBC Modi Documentary

The Supreme Court has instructed the Indian government to produce documents tied to its decision to block a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots. The case involves multiple petitioners challenging the ban as unconstitutional, with a hearing set for January 2025.

The Supreme Court has directed the Indian government to present original documents relating to its action to block a contentious BBC documentary that examined the 2002 Gujarat riots. The directive was made by a bench formed by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar.

Petitioners, including prominent figures like veteran journalist N Ram, argue that the ban violates the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. They allege the decision, made under emergency IT rules, is arbitrary and unconstitutional.

Hearings on this matter are set for January 2025, with the government required to respond to the petitioners' challenges within three weeks. Meanwhile, criticism continues over the legality and transparency of the decision, which involves high-stakes political implications.

(With inputs from agencies.)