No specific instance of paid news in electronic media, submits Rathore in Lok Sabha
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister of State, MIB said the existing provisions in the Programme and Advertising Codes are adequate to regulate content on TV channels
In response to a question in Lok Sabha, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister of State, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said that “no specific instance of paid news in electronic media (private satellite TV channels) has been brought to the notice of this Ministry.”
“Instances of paid news during Election time are directly dealt by Election Commission of India under the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” he further stated.
Rathore also added that the existing provisions contained in the Programme and Advertising Codes and the existing mechanism were considered adequate to regulate content on TV channels.
Colonel Rathore while submitting his response also added the following:
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 Networks 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 prescribed Programme Code and Advertising Code enshrined in the aforesaid Act and the rules framed thereunder. Action is taken against TV channels whenever violation of the said codes is established. (The Programme Code and Advertising Code are available on the Ministry’s website: mib.nic.in). The Programme and Advertising Codes contain a wide range of parameters to regulate programmes and advertisements on such TV channels including the content likely to pose menace of news sensationalism and breaking news culture.
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.
“Instances of paid news during Election time are directly dealt by Election Commission of India under the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” he further stated.
Rathore also added that the existing provisions contained in the Programme and Advertising Codes and the existing mechanism were considered adequate to regulate content on TV channels.
Colonel Rathore while submitting his response also added the following:
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 Networks 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 prescribed Programme Code and Advertising Code enshrined in the aforesaid Act and the rules framed thereunder. Action is taken against TV channels whenever violation of the said codes is established. (The Programme Code and Advertising Code are available on the Ministry’s website: mib.nic.in). The Programme and Advertising Codes contain a wide range of parameters to regulate programmes and advertisements on such TV channels including the content likely to pose menace of news sensationalism and breaking news culture.
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.
