HC refuses to stay ban on serial 'Ram Siya ke Luv Kush' in Punjab, producers offer to delete scenes
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday refused to stay a ban on airing of television series 'Ram Siya ke Luv Kush' in Punjab. The ban on the telecast of the controversial series stays for the time being, with the court adjourning the matter to September 12, according to an official release by the state government.
During a special hearing on a petition by Colors TV channel, Justice TS Dhindsa declined to grant a stay on the orders passed by the various district commissioners, in their capacity as district magistrates.
Arguing on behalf of the state government, Additional Advocate General Rameeza Hakeem said the decision to ban the telecast of the serial had been taken on the grounds that it has hurt the religious sentiments of the Valmiki community in the state by "portraying Valmiki ji in a negative light".
During the hearing, Colors TV contended that the ban orders had been passed without adhering to the principles of natural justice, and without the ingredients of Section 19 of the Cable Operators Regulation Act, as per the release.
The channel also placed on record an offer from the producers of the serial to enter a dialogue with the Secretary (Home) to discuss the issue and offered to delete any objectionable scenes.
The court called upon the Additional Advocate General to take instructions in the matter, especially on the offer made by the producers to delete the scenes in question.
Hakeem later said the offer would be considered by the state government, whose response would be submitted before the court on the next date of hearing.
On Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had directed an immediate ban by the respective DCs on the telecast of the serial following protests by members of the Valmiki community who had called for a bandh on the same day.
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Thumbay Group begins work on Sharjah’s first private integrated psychiatric, rehabilitation hospital
Sharjah: Thumbay Group has laid the foundation stone for the Thumbay Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Hospital at Sharjah Healthcare City, a 120-bed facility that the company says will be the region’s first private, fully integrated hospital dedicated to psychiatric care, neuro-rehabilitation and addiction recovery.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri, who is also a member of the Sharjah Executive Council, in the presence of Dr. Thumbay Moideen.
Spread across 110,000 square feet, the hospital is being developed to address growing demand for specialised mental health and rehabilitation services in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The facility will include inpatient and outpatient services in psychiatry, neuro-rehabilitation, addiction treatment, child and adolescent mental health, and care for mood and anxiety disorders. It will also feature VIP inpatient villas designed to provide privacy and support long-term recovery.
A mosque, named the Thumbay Masjid, will be constructed within the campus and will be open to the public.
The hospital is being designed to meet standards for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an internationally recognised accreditation system for rehabilitation facilities.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri said the project reflects Sharjah’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in all aspects of wellbeing.
“Mental health and rehabilitation have long needed dedicated infrastructure, and we are proud to support a private partner whose vision matches the ambition of this Emirate,” he said.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen said the project was a response to a growing need for specialised mental healthcare services in the region.
“We have spent over three decades building healthcare in this region, and the one conversation that has grown louder every year is mental health. Families have been carrying this quietly for too long. This hospital is our answer. It is purpose-built, not retrofitted, and it has been designed around dignity, recovery, and outcomes that families can trust,” he said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, and the hospital is expected to become operational by mid-2027.
Once completed, the facility will become part of Thumbay Group’s network of healthcare, education and diagnostic institutions across the UAE.
