Supreme Court agrees to hear PILs on screening BBC film

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear pleas challenging the Centre's decision to block a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots on Monday next week.

A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on Monday took note of the submissions of lawyer M L Sharma and senior advocate C U Singh, appearing for veteran journalist N Ram and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan, seeking urgent listing of their separate PILs on the issue.

At the outset of the proceedings, lawyer Sharma, who has filed a PIL in his personal capacity, mentioned the plea and sought urgent hearing. "It will be listed on Monday," said the bench, also comprising Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala. "People were being arrested. Please list it urgently," Sharma submitted. "You can speak to social media from elsewhere. It will be listed on Monday," the bench said. Minutes later, senior advocate C U Singh mentioned the separate plea on the issue filed by Ram and Bhushan. He made a mention of tweets by Ram and Bhushan being deleted allegedly by using emergency powers. He also said students in Ajmer were rusticated for streaming the BBC documentary. "We will list," the CJI said.

Sharma filed the PIL against the Centre's decision to block the documentary, alleging it was "malafide, arbitrary and unconstitutional". The PIL also urged the apex court to call and examine the BBC documentary - both parts I and II - and sought action against persons who were responsible and involved directly and indirectly with the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju hit out at those moving the Supreme Court challenging the Centre's decision to block a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots, saying this is how they "waste" precious time of the top court.