The ASG said at the outset that YouTube is flooded with messages against the single-judge who delivered the judgement under challenge, Justice N Nagaresh.
Dave reacted strongly to this and objected to the innuendo that the petitioners were behind the same.
“YouTube is a vast ocean and if someone has done anything as alleged by ASG, we condemn it and we have the highest respect for the judiciary. But to give an impression that we are behind is totally baseless and ASG should not have made such statements to prejudice the court,” Dave said.
On merits, Dave argued that under the guidelines which the government has relied on to revoke the licence that had previously been granted to the channel, security clearance is mandated only at the initial stage of grant of permission and not at the renewal stage.
“For renewal, there are certain conditions which we have to fulfill which does not include security clearance. The Govt has therefore done this revocation without any power and therefore, it to be set aside,” Dave contended.
Source: Barandbench
