The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea on Monday from the NGO Sindhi Sangat, which is urging the Centre to launch a 24-hour Sindhi language channel on Doordarshan.
This follows a dismissal by the Delhi High Court of the NGO’s earlier request.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justices J.B. Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra will consider the appeal against the high court’s May 27 ruling. The high court had rejected the petition, stating that Prasar Bharti’s decision not to initiate a 24-hour Sindhi channel was based on a reasonable distinction.
In its ruling, the high court noted that the NGO failed to establish a legal or constitutional right to demand a dedicated Sindhi channel, deeming its plea “misplaced.” It referenced Section 12(2)(d) of the Prasar Bharti (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990, which mandates that Prasar Bharti ensure adequate coverage of diverse regional cultures and languages.
Prasar Bharti defended its position, citing census data that indicated a Sindhi-speaking population of approximately 2.6 million, asserting that a full-time channel would not be economically viable.
However, the organization has been airing Sindhi programming on its DD Girnar, DD Rajasthan, and DD Sahyadri channels, which reach regions with significant Sindhi populations in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
The high court acknowledged that these channels are accessible nationwide and included on DTH platforms. It found Prasar Bharti’s approach of including Sindhi language programs on these channels to be a rational and reasonable interpretation of the “adequate coverage” requirement outlined in the law.
