Lok Sabha Question No. 3764 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-09
Subject: Guidelines for Private Channels
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3764 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09/08/2018

## GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE CHANNELS

## 3764.  SHRI  RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to issue any guidelines for private TV channels so  that  such  channels  do  not  hurt  the  feelings/emotions  of  people  by  portraying incidents in a sensational manner;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  put  a  check  on  those  TV  channels  showing  antinational activities or are functioning negatively; and
- (d) if so, the number of such channels blocked during the last two years?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b):  As  per  existing  regulatory  framework,  all  programmes  and  advertisements telecast on private satellite TV channels and transmitted/re-transmitted through the Cable TV network   are required to adhere to the Programme Code prescribed  under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 framed thereunder, which inter-alia restrains TV channels from showing any programme which (a) contains attack on religions or communities or visuals or words contemptuous of religious  groups  or  which  promote  communal  attitudes;  (b)  contains  anything  obscene, defamatory,  deliberate,  false  and  suggestive  innuendos  and  half-truths;  (c)  likely  to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promote anti-national attitudes; and (d) contains live coverage of any anti-terrorist operation  by  security  forces,  wherein  media  coverage  shall  be  restricted  to  periodic briefing  by  an  officer  designated  by  the  appropriate  Government,  till  such  operation concluded.

(c)  &  (d)  The  Government  has  set  up  Electronic  Media  Monitoring  Centre  (EMMC)  to monitor the content of private TV channels with reference to the violation of Programme and Advertising Codes.  An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has also been set up in the Ministry  to  take  cognizance  suo-moto  or  look  into  the  specific  complaints  against  the violation of Programme and Advertising Codes.  The Ministry has also issued directions to States to set up District level and State level Monitoring Committees to  monitor content telecast on cable TV channels.

Action is taken against TV channels whenever any violation of the Programme and Advertising  Codes  is  established.  Ministry  generally  issues  warnings  or  advisories  to comply with the Programme/Advertising Codes or asks the channels to scroll apologies on their channels. Occasionally, the channels are also taken off air temporarily for a limited period depending on the gravity of the violation . Details of private TV channels asked to go off air for telecasting content in violation of the Programme and Advertisement Codes during the last two years is at Annexure .

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## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE  REFERED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (c)  AND  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3764   FOR ANSWER ON 09.08.2018

List  of  private  TV  channels  asked  to  go  off  air  for  telecasting  content  in  violation  of  the Programme and Advertisement  Codes during the last two years and the current year.

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Channels   | Reason for Show Cause Notice/Details of content telecast by TV channels                                                                                                                                       | Details of action taken                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | NDTV INDIA             | Telecast of news report on Pathankot terrorist attack disclosing sensitive information well beyond the briefing given by the designated officer while the anti-terrorist operations were underway.            | An order was issued on 02.11.2016 to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day.                                                                   |
|         2 | Care World             | Telecast of obscene programme 'Kya Karu Mai Aab                                                                                                                                                               | An order was issued on 02.11.2016 to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for seven days                                                                 |
|         3 | News Time Assam        | Telecast of news report revealing the identity of minor boy. Telecast of News bulletins showing disturbing visuals of dead bodies. Telecast of news story defaming the image of an MLA and denigrating women. | An order dated 02.11.2016 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day (to carry out the three awards of one day off air concurrently) |
|         4 | VTV                    | Telecast of News programme 'Viral Truth' showing disturbing visuals of violence.                                                                                                                              | An order was issued on 12.12.2017 to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day.                                                                   |
|         5 | DY 365                 | Telecast of a news report showing visuals denigrating child.                                                                                                                                                  | An order was issued on 13.12.2017 to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for three days.                                                                |

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