Date:16/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/16/stories/2008101659411300.htm

National

What prevents Centre from regulating TV, asks court

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: Expressing serious concern over the contents of programmes telecast by television channels, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to come out with guidelines and suggestions in three weeks to regulate the electronic media.

A three-Judge Bench of Justices B.N. Agrawal, G.S. Singhvi and Aftab Alam gave this direction to Additional Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam during the hearing of a writ petition filed by ‘Common Cause.’

When Mr. Justice Agrawal asked Mr. Subramaniam “what is the difficulty for the government to bring in a law,” Mr. Subramaniam said that a Bill relating to the content code and regulations was pending consideration. The Centre already obtained the views of three Union Territories and 11 State governments and it was in the process of getting the views of others.

The electronic media wanted to have self-regulation and the former Chief Justice of India, J.S. Verma, had been appointed to head a committee.”

“Why had the remaining States failed to respond so far on the issue,” Mr. Justice Agrawal asked. “Is it because of vote bank politics? The government has no concern. Your government may not like to introduce the Bill right now.” “Television is now the most powerful instrument in the world which influences people’s mind,” Mr. Justice Singhvi told Mr. Subramaniam. “Violence and obscenity are glorified. Tell us if there is a single day in the 365 days in a year where a family can sit together and watch a programme without an assault on basic values.”

Mr. Justice Singhvi said: “Today, we saw a TV channel showing noted criminal Babloo Srivastava being surrounded by policemen and smoking cigarette while being escorted to the court. Can you imagine what impact it will have on the minds of children?

“In another instance, a man threatened to commit suicide in Hyderabad and TV channels telecast the incident right from the moment the man climbed the fifth floor of an apartment and jumped to his death. There were so many people watching it but not a single person came forward to prevent him from taking the extreme step.”