Centre warns TV channels against making ‘false claims’, using ‘scandalous headlines’

Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has advised private TV news channels against making false claims and using scandalous headlines.

The Centre cited the Ukraine-Russian conflict and Jahangirpuri violence in Delhi for arguing that TV channels and debate shows are acting in violation of Programme Code of The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

The Ministry issued a note: “It has been found that  in the recent past several Satellite TV channels have carried out coverage of events and incidents in a manner which appears to be unauthentic, misleading, sensational and using socially unacceptable language and remarks, offending good taste and decency, and obscene and defamatory and having communal overtones.”

The Ministry also cautioned private TV channels against broadcasting debates having “unparliamentary, provocative and socially unacceptable language, communal remarks and derogatory references” which may incite communal disharmony.

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The channels have also been accused of disrupting the probe by playing ‘scandalous and unverified footages of a specific community thus aggravating the communal tensions.’

The Centre also objected to the coverage of Ukraine war. “It has been observed that channels have been making false claims and frequently misquoting International agencies/actors. The channels are using ‘scandalous headlines/taglines’ that are completely unrelated to the news item.”