Broadcast alleging 'terror funding' involvement: Delhi High Court seeks Sudhir Chaudhary's response in plea by Shehla Rashid seeking apology

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, Zee News and the News Broadcasters and Digital Standards Association (NBDSA) to file their response on former JNU student union leader Shehla Rashid’s plea seeking an apology from Zee and Chaudhary for airing a news programme against her..In the programme, Chaudhary interviewed Rashid’s estranged father and allegedly insinuated that she is involved in anti-national activities and is funding terror..Advocate Prasanna S appeared for Rashid and argued that in today’s situation when these kinds of allegations are made, it is important that there is a sense of responsibility from the media and people who make these allegations.Counsel appearing for the NBDSA told the court that she has confirmation that Zee has removed all the links from all platforms regarding the program in question..Single-judge Justice Yashwant Varma asked the respondents to file their responses within six weeks and listed the case for further consideration on February 23, 2023..The former student leader has approached the High Court in relation to an order passed by News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority in April 2022.In its order, NBDSA had directed Zee News to take down links of a show about Rashid since it lacked objectivity, impartiality and presented only one side of the story. .The show aired on November 30, 2020 where the channel interviewed Rashid’s father and allegedly made allegations against her.Rashid then wrote to the NBDSA arguing that the programme had insinuated that she is involved in “anti-national activities” and was “funding terror”.As the NBDSA ordered Zee to take down the show, Rashid expressed her displeasure at the fact that association had not directed the channel to issue an apology to her..Rashid has now sought modification of the NBDSA order to direct Zee and Chaudhary to issue an unambiguous and unequivocal apology and to broadcast the same during prime-time to mitigate the damage and prejudice caused to her dignity and reputation. "In the present case, the Respondent No. 3-4 (Zee and Chaudhary) have abused the privilege extended to them by airing a one-sided, accusatory and defamatory broadcast on 30.11.2020 thereby making wild, baseless and unfounded allegations against the Petitioner insinuating and asserting her involvement in anti-national activities, allegedly threatening her father and siphoning crowd-funds among other allegations, without taking or airing her version in respect of the allegations," the plea said. It added, "The Impugned broadcast covered the interview of the father of the Petitioner, Mr. Abdul Rashid Shora against whom there existed a restraint order dt. 17.11.2020 for an ongoing case of domestic violence against the Petitioner and her family (mother and sister). Respondent No. 3-4 without conducting due and diligent enquiry of the background of the case facilitated the retaliatory action of the disgruntled father, against the Petitioner which is a blatant violation of norms code of ethics required to be adhered by the media.".Rashid said that the videos of the broadcast have been viewed by several people and has till date has received more than 3800 reactions and shared by more than 500 people. Thus, merely taking down the videos will unfortunately not affect the impact that the broadcast had on the public nor remotely restore the dignity and reputation of the Petitioner which was damaged by the broadcast, the plea added.