Cuttack court overturns restrictions on OTV broadcasts related to KIIT and KISS

The Cuttack Senior Civil Judge Court on Friday lifted the restrictions preventing Odisha Television Limited (OTV) from reporting on matters related to the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).

The Senior Civil Judge Court concluded that the claims presented by the petitioner lacked sufficient evidence. The court argued that imposing restrictions on OTV would lead to irreparable harm to the channel, especially when the news in question is publicly accessible.

Petition and Allegations

Rita Patnaik, a resident of the Badambadi area, filed a petition alleging that negative news coverage about KIIT adversely impacted her son's mental wellbeing, diminishing his self-esteem and disrupting his attendance. The petition sought to prohibit OTV from airing any unfavourable reports about KIIT and KISS.

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Interim Restriction and Final Judgement

Initially, the court had placed an interim ban on OTV's broadcasts concerning the institutions. However, following a comprehensive evaluation, the court has dismissed the interim application and lifted all prior restrictions, allowing OTV to resume its reporting on the subjects.

Upon review, the court issued a comprehensive judgment lifting the restriction and dismissing the case, citing inadequate proof of any damage caused by the broadcasts.

Legal Outcome

The decision has been deemed a victory for press freedom, upholding the principle of fact-based reporting. The case has highlighted the challenges often faced by media houses in balancing public interest reporting with individual privacy and mental well-being concerns.

The judgment underscores the importance of journalistic freedom in disseminating information available in the public domain.