The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed a television network to issue a public apology after a promo for a comedy programme allegedly mocked freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram Pillai.
The case arose from a promotional video released last month on TV and social media for a show on Adithya, a 24-hour comedy channel owned by the Sun TV Network. In the clip, presenters were seen making remarks that were described as ridiculing V.O.C.
Petitioner Kanagavel Pandiyan approached the court seeking action. Justice L. Victoria Gowri observed that increasing viewership cannot justify distorting history or insulting those whose sacrifices helped make constitutional freedoms possible.
Noting that the company had come forward to correct its mistake, the court recorded the channel’s undertaking to telecast an apology by the four participants who appeared in the promo. The apology must be aired during prime time and should clearly state that the comments were inappropriate and historically incorrect.
The court also ordered the Sun Group to conduct an annual state-level speech competition focusing on V.O.C.’s life and sacrifices, his legal work, Swadeshi industrial efforts and economic ideas. The competition is to be held every year on September 5, V.O.C.’s birth anniversary, using funds earmarked for social responsibility initiatives.
