Adhere to Programme Code on Ayodhya coverage on TV: MIB issues advisory

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) has issued an advisory to all TV channels, DTH operators, MSOs and cable operators to strictly adhere to the Programme Code enshrined under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 while covering the Ayodhya case.

As is known, the Supreme Court has delivered its judgement today (November 9, 2019) on the Ayodhya title dispute case, giving a conclusion to the over 100-year old dispute.

“It becomes imperative to ensure that debates/ discussions/ visuals carried on electronic media do not incite any divisive or anti-national feelings or sentiments,” the MIB said in its advisory.

The Ministry directed that no programme should carry anything which:

i. Contains attack on religions or communities or visuals or words contemptuous of religious groups or which promote anti-national attitudes;

ii. Contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths;

iii. Is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes;

iv. Contains anything amounting to contempt of court;

v. Contains anything affecting the integrity of the nation; and

vi. Criticises, maligns or slanders any individual in person or certain groups, segments of social, public or moral life of the country.