Lok Sabha Question No. 2038 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Guidelines for Reporting of Suicide Cases
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Anumula Revanth Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2038 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12/02/2021

## GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING OF SUICIDE CASES

## 2038. SHRI  ANUMULA REVANTH REDDY :

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  at  present  there  are  any  guidelines  for  reporting  of  suicide cases in media and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there is a need to issue fresh guidelines to TV channels, and other media to ensure sensitive reporting of cases of suicide especially when  suicide  cases  and  other  mental  health  issues  are  on  the  rise during COVID and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the  action  was  taken  on  certain  section  of  media  for  the  way they reported certain film actors' death;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government to check such practice keeping in view that sensational reporting of cases of suicide affects the mental well  being  of  viewers  with  mental  health  issues  and  it  also  affects  the families of those who have died of suicide?

## 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  (b):  As  per  existing  regulatory  framework,  programmes telecast on TV channels are regulated in terms of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks  Rules,  1994.    All  channels  are  required  to  adhere to  the  said  Programme  Code  which  contains  a  wide  range  of parameters.

The  Programme  Code  has  specific  provisions  that  no programme should be carried which offends against good taste or  decency  or  which  contain  anything  defamatory,  deliberate, false  and  suggestive  innuendos  and  half-truths  or  criticizes, maligns or slanders any individual in person or certain groups, segments of social, public and moral life of the country, etc.

Press  Council  of  India  (PCI),  set  up  under  the  Press Council Act, 1978, has framed 'Norms of Journalistic Conduct' for  adherence  by  the  print  media.  These  Norms  prescribe guideline for reporting of suicide cases as well as mental health patients.

(c) to (e) Ministry has issued advisories from time to time to all private  satellite  TV  channels  advising  them  to  adhere  to  the Programme Code scrupulously. The PCI has also issued advisories on the subject on 28 th  August, 2020 and 29 th  January, 2021 advising media to adhere to the norms framed by it.

Complaints were received in the Ministry about the media coverage of death of Shri Sushant Singh Rajput. The complaints were  forwarded  to  News  Broadcasting  Standards  Authority (NBSA)  which  is  a  self-regulatory  body  in  respect  of  their member  news  broadcasters.  NBSA  issued  an  Advisory  on 13.08.2020  to  all  its  member  channels  regarding  coverage  of that case by member broadcasters, highlighting specific guidelines covering reportage and the manner in which media should report on cases of suicide.  NBSA also examined various complaints  referred  to  it  and  vide  its  Order  dated  06.10.2020, took  penal  action  against  member  channels  to  air  apology, censure, warning and fine. *********