Lok Sabha Question No. 3558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Sensitive News/Videos
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: V. SATHYABAMA, PR. SENTHILNATHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3558 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/12/2016

## SENSITIVE NEWS/VIDEOS

## 3558.  SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA: SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has constituted committees with regard to broadcast and internet journalism;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the total number of 24/7 News Channels at present in operation, language wise;
- (d) whether the Government has any definite plan to regulate and restrict the     24/7 news channels from repeatedly telecasting  sensitive news/videos  which creates panic and unrest among the common public and affects the peace and communal harmony in the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b). Ministry administers the Cable Act to regulate Cable TV Network including TV channels and has constituted  a composite Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) under the chairmanship of the Addl. Secretary (I&B)  and comprising officers drawn from  Ministries of  Home  Affairs,  Law  &  Justice,  Women  and  Child  Development,  Health  &  Family Welfare,  External  Affairs,  Defence,  Consumer  Affairs  and  a  representative  from  the industry in Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), to  take  cognizance sou-motu or  look  into  specific  complaints  regarding  violation  of  the  Programme  Code    and Advertising  Code  in  respect  of  content  carried  by  private  TV    channels.  The  IMC functions in a recommendatory capacity. The final decision regarding penalties and its quantum is taken by the Ministry on the basis of the recommendations of IMC.

With regard to internet journalism, Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology has stated that there is no Committee constituted with regard to content on internet.

(c):  As  on  date,  Ministry  of  Information  and  Broadcasting  has  permitted  400  private satellite TV channels in the category of News and Current Affairs. The list of permitted satellite TV channels is available on Ministry's website i.e. www.mib.nic.in

(d) to (e): As per existing regulatory framework, the telecast of content on private satellite TV channels is regulated  as  per Cable Television  Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and

Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 framed thereunder.  The Act does not provide for pre-censorship of any programmes and advertisements telecast on such TV channels. However,  it  prescribes  that  all  programmes  and  advertisements  telecast  on  such  TV channels  should  be  in  conformity  with  the  Programme  Code  and  Advertising  Code prescribed  under  the  aforesaid  Act  and  the  rules  framed  thereunder.  Action  is  taken against TV channels whenever violation of the said codes is brought to the notice of the Ministry.  (The  Programme  Code  and  Advertising  Code  are  available  on  the  Ministry's website: mib.nic.in).  The Programme and Advertising Codes contain a whole range of parameters to regulate programmes and advertisements on TV such channels including the  content  which  is  likely  to  create  panic  and  unrest  among  the  common  public  or affects the peace and communal harmony in the country.  In this regard, some specific provisions made in the Programme Code are given as under:

Rule 6(c) provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service which contains  attack  on  religions  or  communities  or  visuals  or  words  contemptuous  of religious groups or which promote communal attitudes;

Rule 6(d) provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service which contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half-truths;

Rule 6(e) provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service which is likely  to  encourage  or  incite  violence  or  contains  anything  against  maintenance  of  law and order or which promote anti-national attitudes;

An  Inter-Ministerial  Committee (IMC) has also been set up in the Ministry to look into the specific complaints or suo-motu take cognizance against violation of Programme and Advertising Codes.  Appropriate action is taken as per Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, if any violation of the said codes is established.

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