Lok Sabha Question No. 2195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: Separate Regulatory Mechanism on News Coverage of COVID-19
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2195 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23/09/2020

SEPARATE REGULATORY MECHANISM ON NEWS COVERAGE OF COVID-19

2195. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether  the  Government  has  sought  to  set  up  a  separate  regulatory mechanism for  issuing  a  blanket  directive  to  the  Indian  media  for  all  the news coverage on COVID-19 in a petition to the Supreme Court;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed grave concern  over  Government's  recommendations  to  pre-censor  unplugged news coverage during this national emergency;
- (d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e) the details of cases where movement of journalists were restricted since the beginning of nationwide lockdown on March 25, 2020?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (d):   The Hon'ble Supreme Court while considering the Writ Petition  (Civil)  No.468  of  2020  had  sought  status  report  on  the steps  taken  by  the  Union  of  India,  in  pursuance  of  which  the Central  Government  on  31.03.2020  filed  a  detailed  status  report and the Apex Court expressed satisfaction with the proactive and timely action taken by the Union of India for preventing the spread of  COVID-19.  The  Supreme  Court  in  its  decision  of  31.03.2020 observed as under:-

' we expect the media (print, electronic or social) to maintain a strong  sense  of  responsibility  and  ensure  that  unverified  news capable of causing panic is not disseminated. A daily bulletin by the  Government  of  India  through  all  media  avenues  including social media and forums to clear the doubts of people would be made  active  within  a  period  of  24  hours  as  submitted  by  the Solicitor General of India. We do not intend to interfere with the free discussion about the pandemic, but direct the media refer to and publish the official version about the developments .'

The  Press  Information  Bureau  (PIB)  under  the  Ministry  of Information and Broadcasting issues Press Releases and conducts Press  Conference  on  a  regular  basis  on  all  aspects  relating  to prevention and management of COVID-19. Further, the PIB has set up a COVID Fact Check Unit on 01.04.2020 which has since then received  and  disposed  over  7000  cases  of  COVID  related  fact checks. (e)         The COVID related Guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs  on  24.03.2020  exempted  Print  and  Electronic  Media  from the  list  of  commercial  and  private  establishments  that  were directed to be closed down. Further, Press Council of India issued an advisory on 24.03.2020 to all State Governments and Administrative authorities to take necessary measures/actions to ensure continuity/smooth functioning of the print media and news agencies within their jurisdiction.

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