HC asks TV channel Adithya to apologise for remarks mocking V.O. Chidambaram
Published - August 05, 2026 08:16 pm IST - MADURAI The Hindu Bureau
- பொது மன்னிப்பு: அந்தக் கருத்துக்கள் வரலாற்று ரீதியாக உணர்வற்றவை என்று கூறி, ஆதித்யா டிவியில் இரண்டு வாரங்களுக்குள் மூன்று முறை முக்கிய ஒளிபரப்பு நேரத்தில் திட்டவட்டமான மன்னிப்பை ஒளிபரப்பியது. [1, 2]
- சமூக ஊடகங்கள்: அதே மன்னிப்புக் கோரிக்கையை சேனலின் அதிகாரப்பூர்வ சமூக ஊடகப் பக்கங்களில் பதிவேற்றிப் பாதுகாத்து வைக்கவும். [1]
- பேச்சுப் போட்டி: பெருநிறுவன சமூகப் பொறுப்பு (CSR) நிதியைப் பயன்படுத்தி, VOC-யின் வாழ்க்கை மற்றும் பொருளாதார தொலைநோக்குப் பார்வை குறித்து ஆண்டுதோறும் மாநில அளவிலான மாணவர் பேச்சுப் போட்டி ஒன்றுக்கு நிதியளித்து நிறுவ வேண்டும். [1]
- புத்தக விநியோகம்: சுதந்திரப் போராட்ட வீரரைப் பற்றிய 1,000 புத்தகப் பிரதிகளைப் பெற்று, மாணவர்களுக்கும் நூலகங்களுக்கும் விநியோகிக்கவும். [1]
Disapproving of a TV promo for a comedy show where the participants mocked freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed Sun TV network’s Adithya TV to issue an apology.
The court said the fourth estate had traditionally been described as a sentinel of democracy. Its power was not confined to reporting events. It framed public conversations, identified social priorities and shaped values through which citizens understood themselves and their nation. The greater its reach, the greater was its obligation to exercise intellectual honesty and social responsibility, the court has said.
Justice L. Victoria Gowri made the observations while disposing of a petition filed by advocate R. Kanagavel Pandian, who said the statements on the channel were not merely historically inaccurate but were calculated to trivialise the sacrifices of the freedom fighter. He sought a direction to police to register an FIR and conduct a probe. He also sought the removal of the content.
In a counter affidavit, the TV channel submitted that following a request from the family of the freedom fighter, the promo had been removed from the TV channel and social media platforms. The episode which was scheduled for telecast was cancelled. The participants tendered an apology.
It was also submitted that the TV channel had commemorated V.O.C.’s birth and death anniversaries during the preceding five years. It expressed willingness to undertake suitable educational and socially beneficial measures suggested by the court. It was submitted that the programme was an outsourced production.
The court said outsourcing did not efface the broadcaster’s responsibility for deciding what entered the public domain through its channel.
The ultimate editorial gatekeeping function remained with the broadcaster. Contractual arrangements with an independent producer could not operate as a shield against public accountability, the court said.
The court recorded the TV channel’s undertaking to telecast the apology on Adithya TV and directed the channel to telecast a public apology. The apology should specifically state that the statements contained in the promotional clip concerning V.O.C. were inappropriate, historically insensitive and inconsistent with the respect owed to the sacrifices of the freedom fighter.
The court directed that the same apology should be uploaded on the official social media handles. In discharge of its social responsibility, and from the funds lawfully allocable for Corporate Social Responsibility activities, the TV channel should institute an annual State-level elocution competition concerning the life, sacrifices, legal career, Swadeshi enterprise and economic vision of V.O.C..
It also directed the TV channel to procure and distribute 1,000 copies of books on the freedom fighter to students and libraries. The court directed the TV channel to telecast an educational programme or documentary on the life and contributions of V.O.C..
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