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DELHI: Even as the issue of the content code remains in animated
suspension with the government dithering on whether to bypass
the television channels, guidelines were issued on Wednesday
for district and state level monitoring committees to provide
a forum for the public to file their complaints and ensure
that no unauthorized or pirated channels are carried.
The
Committees were envisaged under the Gazette Order of September
2005 to enforce Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act,
1995.
The
State-level Committees will also recommend action and forward
complaints against satellite channels (National Channels)
to the Union Information and Broadcasting ministry through
the chief secretary of the State in cases of violation of
the Central Government’s orders on the Programme and
Advertising Codes.
Justifying
the action, sources in the I&B Ministry told indiantelevision.com
that it had been noticed that the enforcement of the Act in
many parts of the country was not satisfactory, either due
to lack of clear understanding of the role of the District
Monitoring Committees or a suitable mechanism to enforce the
provisions of the Act.
No State except J&K had reported the constitution of a
State-level committee. An increasing number of petitions were
being received in the Union I&B Ministry from viewers
regarding malpractices by Cable Operators and undesirable
content being shown at the local level by the cable operators.
The Committees will also monitor whether local news if aired
by the cable television operator is restricted to information
about local events and is presented in a manner which is balanced,
impartial and not likely to offend or incite any community.
The scope of the District Level Committee was to provide a
forum where the public may lodge a complaint regarding content
aired over cable television and take action on the same, according
to the procedure prescribed herein. It will also review the
action taken by Authorized Officers for enforcement of Act.
It will inform the State and Central Governments of any programme
affecting public order or widespread resentment in any community,
and keep a watch on content carried by cable television channels
at local level.
It will ensure through Authorized Officers that local news
aired by the cable television operator is restricted to information
about local events and is presented in a manner which is balanced,
impartial and not likely to offend or incite any community.
It will also monitor the availability of free-to-air channels
and channels notified for mandatory carriage on the cable
network.
A complaint cell, headed by a nodal officer at District level,
should be established and wide publicity given regarding the
constitution of Monitoring Committee and procedure followed
by it, including putting it on website of the State/UT.
In case the complaint concerns content carried locally by
Cable TV Network at its own level, the Committee may call
for footage/VCD of the programme/advertisement against which
complaint is considered and the Committee may decide whether
a violation has taken place. In case the Committee is of the
view that violation has taken place, the Authorized Officer
may take action under the Act.
In case the complaint pertains to national/regional satellite
channels, the Committee may forward its recommendations through
the State-level Monitoring Committee to the Central Government
for dealing with the issue.
In case it is found that a cable network operator is not carrying
channels prescribed for mandatory carriage or is carrying
them in such a manner that the signal is too poor to be properly
visible or audible, the Committee, through Authorized Officer,
may direct the cable network to ensure proper carriage of
the same and take any other action it may consider necessary
under Section 11.
The State-level Committee will be chaired by the Secretary,
Information & Public Relations in the respective state.
The Committee members will include a representative of the
DG of State Police, Secretary of the Social Welfare Department,
Secretary for Women and Child Development in the state, a
representative of a leading NGO of the state working for women
(to be nominated by the Chief Secretary) and Academicians/Psychologists/Sociologists
(one each to be nominated by the Chief Secretary). The Director
(Information) of the State will be the Member Secretary.
The functions of the State Level Monitoring Committee will
be to see whether District/Local Committees have been formed
and are meeting regularly, whether the authorized officers
are effectively performing their duties, give suggestion/guidance
to District/Local Level Committee, and take decisions on matters
referred to it by District/Local level Committee.
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