SC allows ESPN-STAR Sports to approach if coerced by Centre

New Delhi, Jan 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court today granted liberty to ESPN-STAR Sports channel to approach the apex court in case it finds itself at the receiving end of any coercive action by the Union Government for not sharing its exclusive feed of the just concluded India-South Afria cricket series with Perasar Bharati.

A bench comprising Mr Justice Ashok Bhan and Mr Justice Dalveer Bhandari recorded the statement of Additional Solicitor General Amrender Saran that till date the government had not taken any coercive step and if it decides to do so, it will issue a showcause bnotice and then the applicant would be free to aproach the court as the series is already over.

Incidentally, a petition challenging the government guidelines to compulsorily share feed of every national or international tournament with the public broadcaster, namely Dootdarshan, in public interest is already pending in the court.

The court disposed of the application holding that with the statement of the government, nothing survives in the application.

Earlier, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the channel, contended that his application was for stay of coercive steps and must not confine to the India- South Africa cricket series.

UNI