Supreme Court Rejects Plea for 24-Hour Sindhi Language Channel on Doordarshan
The Supreme Court on Monday declined a plea by NGO Sindhi Sangat seeking directives for the Union government to establish a 24-hour Sindhi language channel on Doordarshan. A bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud ruled that there is no fundamental right to demand a dedicated channel for any language, emphasizing that other effective methods for preserving the Sindhi language and culture should be explored.
The public broadcaster Prasar Bharati had previously argued that Sindhi language programs are already aired on regional channels like DD Girnar, DD Rajasthan, and DD Sahyadri, which cater to regions with high concentrations of Sindhi speakers. The broadcaster maintained that creating a full-time Sindhi channel would not be feasible due to the relatively small population of Sindhi speakers across the country.
The Delhi High Court had earlier rejected the NGO’s plea in May, stating that the current broadcasting of Sindhi programs on regional channels met the “adequate coverage” requirement outlined in the Prasar Bharati Act. The Supreme Court upheld this decision, advising the NGO to seek alternative forms of relief.
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