Don’t give platform to persons charged with serious crimes: MIB to TV channels

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to television channels to refrain from providing any platform to persons against whom there are charges of serious crimes, including terrorism or belonging to organisations proscribed by law.

The advisory has been issued in light of a recent discussion on a television channel of a person in a foreign country against whom there are serious cases of crime, including terrorism, belonging to an organisation which has been proscribed by law in India. During the discussion, the person had made several comments which are detrimental to the sovereignty/ integrity of the country, security of India, friendly relations of India with a foreign state and also have the potential of disturbing public order in the country.

The Ministry has categorically stated that the Government upholds media freedom and respects its rights under the Constitution, but at the same time the content telecast by TV channels must adhere to the provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 including sub section (2) of Section 20.