Govt suspends SS TV for a week from mid-Feb

NEW DELHI: SS Music channel, renamed as SS TV, has been suspended for seven days from 15 to 22 February and transmission or retransmission of the channel on any platform throughout India.

The central government passed this order following the order of 28 November last by the Division Bench of the Madras High Court validating the suspension of the South India-based SS Music Channel.

The Court had, according to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, directed for a fresh period of suspension. Hence, the Ministry order.

Earlier on 16 November 2010, the Ministry had under Section 20(2) of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 issued an Order prohibiting transmission or re-transmission of this channel on any platform throughout India with effect from 22 to 29 November 2010 following the telecast of ?Sizzling Hits? on 25 March 2010 and 10 April 2010 in violation of the Programme Code.

The channel had thereafter filed a Writ Petition in the Madras High Court challenging the order, and got a stay from a single judge on 19 November 2010.

Subsequently, single judge bench on 7 December 2010 allowed the petition filed by SS Music Channel and set aside the Order of the ministry, against which an appeal was filed before a division bench which admitted it for hearing on 21 March 2011.

In the meanwhile, the name of the TV channel had been changed from ?SS Music? to ?SS TV? after seeking permission from the Ministry.