The Indian government  yesterday said since 2018 it has taken action in 178 cases related to breach of content or programming code by TV channels.

“Since 2018, the government has taken action against private TV channels for violation of Programme Code in respect of 178 cases by issuance of advisories, warnings, apology scroll and off-air orders, etc.,” Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur informed Rajya Sabha.

The Minister was replying to a series of questions in Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on issues related to TV content, including news programmes, and whether the government was planning to “initiate any code of conduct or broad guidelines for the debates that happen on electronic media”.

Being more specific while clarifying on content related issues raised in one of the questions, the Minister highlighted that during the period 2020 to January 2023, the government had taken action against private TV channels for violating the Programme Code in respect of 79 cases.

Thakur further highlighted that all private satellite TV channels were required to adhere to the Programme Code laid down under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the Rules framed under it.

The code, he said, provides that no programme should be telecast, which “offends against good taste or decency” and is not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition and the government takes “appropriate action” when such breaches happen.

“The Ministry also issues advisories from time to time to all private satellite TV channels for adhering to the Programme Code. An advisory was issued on 09.01.2023 to all private satellite TV channels against airing disturbing footage/ images of incidents of death, accident and violence amounting to violation of Programme Code,” the Minister informed his parliamentary colleagues.

The federal government, according to Thakur, has also notified Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021 establishing a statutory mechanism for redressal of grievances and complaints related to violation of Programme and Advertising Codes.

The rules provide for a three level complaint redress mechanism, largely self-regulatory in nature, and the government oversight body only gets into action when the industry fails to resolve complaints regarding violations.