Set up panel to regulate TV channels, HC tells govt

Amid raging controversy over regulation of the electronic media, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday recommended to the government to establish a statutory body to regulate the broadcast media, saying state intervention was necessary. Satya Prakash reports.

Amid raging controversy over regulation of the electronic media, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday recommended to the government to establish a statutory body to regulate the broadcast media, saying state intervention was necessary.

HT Image

"Absence of state intervention on its own is no guarantee of a rich media environment. On the contrary: to promote a media environment characterized by pluralism and diversity, State intervention is necessary," a bench headed by justice Pradeep Nandrajog said.

Recommending that a statutory regulatory body "consisting of men and women of eminence" be constituted, the bench said, security of tenure should be provided for its members so that they were free from government interference.

"Till this happens…as a stop-gap mechanism, the self-regulatory body formed by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation named 'Broadcasting Consumers Complaint Committee'…recognized by the Union of India as a body competent to take cognizance of and decide complaints pertaining to violation of the law by broadcasters…its (BCCC's) decisions shall be treated by the Union of India as the foundation to take appropriate action and pass necessary directions as also orders against the offender," the HC said.

The bench was deciding a PIL against 'Emotional Atyachar' telecast on UTV Bindass in 2010. It asked the BCCC, an industry body meant for self regulation, to decide on the complaints of "vulgarity" and "obscenity" against reality shows and the Centre would enforce the decision.