Lok Sabha Question No. 2235 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Telecast of Objectionable Contents
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: KRISHN PRATAP SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2235 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08/03/2018

## TELECAST OF OBJECTIONABLE CONTENTS

## 2235.  DR.  KRISHAN  PRATAP:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  INFORMATION  &  BROADCASTING [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]

(a) to (d):  Complaints are received directly and also through the public grievance portal i.e  http://pgportal.gov.in relating to the content telecast on private TV channels. As per existing regulatory framework, private satellite TV channels are required to adhere to the Programme  and  Advertising  Codes  prescribed  under  the  Cable  Television  Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 framed thereunder which  contain  a  gamut  of  criteria  to  be  followed  while  carrying  programmes  and advertisements in such TV channels. FM Radio Channels are required to comply with the terms & conditions of the Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) which is executed by  them  with  the  Ministry  of  Information  &  Broadcasting  at  the  time  of  granting permission  to  run  FM  radio  channels.  Clause  7.6  of  the  GOPA  provides  that  the permission holder shall ensure that no content, messages, advertisement or communication, transmitted in its Broadcast Channel is objectionable, obscene, unauthorized or inconsistent with the laws of India.

Ministry  has  also  constituted  a  composite  Inter  Ministerial  Committee  (IMC) comprising  officers  from  Ministries  of  Home  Affairs,  Defence,  External  Affairs,  Law  & Justice, Women & Child Development, Health & Family Welfare, Consumer Affairs and a representative from Advertising Standards Council of India, to take cognizance suo moto or  to  look  into  specific  complaints  regarding  content  on  private  TV  channels  on  any platform  including  FM  Radio  channels.  As  and  when  there  is  a prima facie case of be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  received  a  large  number  of  complaints  from viewers/audiences regarding so-called objectionable contents being telecast/broadcast on several TV channels and radio stations;
- (b) if so, the steps taken or proposed to be taken for safeguarding the interests and fundamental rights of viewers in the country; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  a  statutory  mechanism  for  the redressal  of  complaints  against  the  contents  of  private  TV  channels  and  radio stations; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

violation  by  private  satellite  TV  channels  and  private  FM  channels  regarding  content aired by them, the matter is placed before the IMC for its consideration/recommendations.  Thus,  IMC  functions  in  a  recommendatory  capacity. The final decision is taken on the basis of the recommendations of IMC by the Ministry.

As part of self-regulation, the following are the self regulating  bodies of broadcasting industry:

(i)  News  Broadcasters  Association  (NBA)-  a  representative  body  of  news  and current affairs TV channels has set up News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) to  consider complaints against or in respect of broadcasters relating to content of any news and currents affairs telecast on TV channels.

(ii) Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), which is a representative body of nonNews  &  current  affairs  TV  channels,  has  set  up  Broadcasting  Content  Complaints Council (BCCC) to examine the complaints about television programmes, and

(iii)  Advertising  Standards  Council  of  India  (ASCI),  a  self  regulatory  body  of advertising  industry  has  set  up  Consumer  Complaints  Council  (CCC)  to  consider complaints in respect of advertisements.

The  above  mechanism  has  also  been  acknowledged  by  the  Supreme  Court  of India in its order dated 12.01.2017 in the matter of WP(C) No.387 of 2000 - Common Cause vs UOI & Ors.

*******