Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court issued notice in writ petition against alleged coordinated suppression of the television news channel, Sakshi TV, by State authorities in Andhra Pradesh. The channel has claimed that it faced “sustained, unlawful, and targeted action aimed at silencing its independent editorial voice” after the declaration of 2024 Assembly election results.

“Issue notice on the prayers for interim relief as well as on the Writ Petition”, the Court stated.

The petitioners have sought interim relief of immediate restoration of transmission of Sakshi TV on a bouquet basis during the pendency of the writ petition.

A bench of Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar passed the order in a plea filed by the channel's owner company M/s Indira Television Limited and its Whole-Time Director B. Ramana Reddy.

“State apparatus is being weaponized to achieve political censorship by indirectly disrupting broadcast access to an independent news channel. This is therefore clearly a case of orchestrated suppression, enforced through threats, denial of basic services, and the chilling of media freedom”, the petition states.

According to the petition, following the declaration of Assembly election results in June 2024, in Andhra Pradesh and the formation of a new government led by the Telugu Desam Party, Sakshi TV was abruptly disconnected by Andhra Pradesh State Fibernet Ltd. (AP State Fibernet), a State-owned distribution platform, without prior notice or explanation.

The petition states that similar disconnections by major Multi System Operators (MSOs) across the State followed, allegedly due to threats from State authorities. According to the petition, MSOs servicing over 40.55 lakh subscribers nearly 80% of the market have already blocked the channel, while the remaining smaller MSOs are under “active and escalating threat”, with the stated object being a complete blackout.

“In the present case, such calculated indirect actions are precisely what are being deployed to achieve the objective of silencing the Petitioner's critical editorial stance. The systematic disconnection of the Petitioner's channel by nearly all MSOs, in the aftermath of a change in government, coupled with targeted coercion against non-compliant operators, points unmistakably to a State-driven effort to suppress dissent”, the petition states.

The petition further claims that between May and July 2025, Sakshi TV was blocked completely by AP State Fibernet and all MSOs except Bhimavaram Community Network in the Rayalaseema region, where it is available only on an à la carte basis.

The petition states that the channel's Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) ratings have seen a sharp decline during this period, with Gross Rating Points (GRPs) dropping from 17.5 to 10.30 and Cumulative Reach falling from 14.94 to 7.95 between May 17, 2025 and July 4, 2025, and sharper declines in rural areas.

The petition alleges that MSOs who resisted pressure faced disconnection of electricity and other utilities, and that cable operators publicly condemned the State's actions. The petition contends that the State's actions amount to indirect political censorship and violate Articles 14, 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.

“there is no order, communication, or regulatory finding warranting the suspension or disconnection of the Petitioner's channel, and yet the coordinated action by nearly all MSOs and the State-operated Respondent No. 3 (Andhra Pradesh Fibernet) ex facie demonstrates the existence of unofficial State sponsored suppression, impermissible in a constitutional democracy”, the petition states.

The petitioners have sought a declaration that the disconnections and coercive measures against MSOs are unconstitutional, a direction to restore the channel's transmission as it existed on June 3, 2024, a bar on any further coercive measures, an independent enquiry into the alleged coordinated actions that led to the blocking, monetary compensation for losses, and guidelines to prevent misuse of State machinery to suppress independent journalism.

Appearance –

For Petitioners: Mr. V. Giri, Sr. Adv. Mr. S. Niranjan Reddy, Sr. Adv. Mr. Mahfooz Ahsan Nazki, AOR Ms. Akhila Palem, Adv. Ms. Palak Arora, Adv. Mr. Hemant Gupta, Adv. Mr. Vivek Rajan D.b., Adv.

For Respondents: Mr. R. Krishnaamorthi, Standing Counsel Mr. Purushotam, Adv. Mr. Randhir Kr. Ojha, AOR

Case no. – Writ Petition (Civil) No. 739/2025

Case Title – M/S. Indira Television Limited & Anr. v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors.

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