Lok Sabha Question No. 2175 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: Veracity of Breaking News
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: M. K. RAGHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2175 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/05/2016

## VERACITY OF BREAKING NEWS

## 2175 . SHRI  M. K. RAGHAVAN:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  any  mechanism  has  been  put  in  place  to  check  on  the  veracity  of  breaking  news broadcasted by electronic media;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any complaints have been received/suo motu cognizance taken by the government in this regard;
- (d)        if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken by the Government in the matter; and
- (e) the other steps take n /being taken by the Government to check such practices and to safeguard the interest of the affected and to reprimand the broadcast?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e).  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 programmes and advertisements telecast on TV channels. However, it prescribes that all programmes and advertisements telecast on TV channels should be in conformity with the prescribed Programme Code and Advertising Code enshrined in the aforesaid Act and the  rules  framed  thereunder.  The said  codes  contain  a  whole  range  of  parameters  to  regulate programmes and advertisements on TV such channels including News and its veracity.  Specifically Rule 6(d) of the Programme Code provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service which contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate,  false and  suggestive  innuendos  and halftruths .

The Government has set up Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) to monitor the content of  private  TV  channels  with  reference  to  violation  of  Programme  and  Advertising  Codes.    An  InterMinisterial Committee (IMC) has also been set up in the Ministry to look into the specific complaints or suo-motu take cognizance against the violation of Programme and Advertising Codes.  Action is taken whenever any violation is brought to notice, action is taken by the government. A list showing details of action  taken  against  TV  channels  for  violation  of  Programme  and  Advertisement  Rule  6(1)(d)  is annexed at Annexure.

As  part  of  self-regulation,  News  Broadcasters  Association  (NBA)  -  a  representative  body  of news  and  current  affairs  channels-has  set  up  News  Broadcasting  Standards  Authority  (NBSA)  to consider complaints against or in respect of broadcasters in so far as these relate to the content of any News and currents affairs broadcast.

The Regulations and Guidelines formulated by NBA/NBSA contain certain provisions relating to objectivity, impartiality, neutrality, privacy, accuracy, fairness, good taste and decency etc. which have a  bearing  on  all  broadcasters  including  'breaking  news'.  Any  violations  of  the  Codes/Guidelines/ Advisories by members of NBA are dealt with the NBSA.

The  existing  provisions  contained  in  the  said  Codes  and  existing  mechanism  are  considered adequate to regulate the content telecast on private TV channels.

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## ANNEXURE  AS  REFERRED  TO  IN  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2175 FOR 06.05.2016

## Action Taken by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on violation of Programme and  Advertisement  Rule  6(1)  (d)    by  Private  TV  News  channels  during  the  last  three years and current year.

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Channel   | Reason for Show Cause Notice                                                                                                                          | Details of action taken                                                                                                               |
|-----------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | News X                | Channel had carried a news scroll on the health of Hon'ble President of India on June 23, 2012                                                        | An Advisory dated 26.12.2013 was issued to channel.                                                                                   |
|         2 | All News Channels     | Telecast of documentary programme India's Daughter                                                                                                    | An Advisory dated 03.03.2015 was issued to the all News channels restraining not to telecast the said documentary programme.          |
|         3 | TV9                   | Telecast a 'Bullet News' political satire targeting Chief Minister of Telangana.                                                                      | An order was issued on 27.03.2015 to the channel for running apology scroll.                                                          |
|         4 | Sathiyam TV           | Telecast of objectionable programme 'Ungal Aseervatha Seram' and Paarthathum Padithathum by Sathiyam TV                                               | A warning dated 12.05.2015 was issued to the channel                                                                                  |
|         5 | Sudarshan News        | Telecast of a programme called BINDAAS BOL making allegation about non-salutation of National Flag on the Republic Day by the Hon'ble Vice President. | A warning dated 17.06.2015 was issued to the channel.                                                                                 |
|         6 | DY 365                | Telecast of News story defame the image of MLA and denigrating women.                                                                                 | A order dated 07.08.2015 was issued to the channel thereby warning the channel and directing it to run an apology scroll for one day  |
|         7 | News Time Assam       | Telecast of News story defame the image of MLA and denigrating women.                                                                                 | A order dated 07.08.2015 was issued to the channel thereby warning the channel and directing it to run an apology scroll for one day. |

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