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Parliamentary panel seeks curbs on media

NEW DELHI: Amid demands for reining in the media — particularly during security operations such as the one during the recent Mumbai terror attack — the Committee on Petitions of the Rajya Sabha has called for statutory regulations on both print and electronic media “in the larger interest of society.”

In its 132nd report — tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Friday — the Committee said that while self-regulation was an ideal situation, it might not be effective to regulate the media; particularly in the scenario of growing competition amongst the channels for supremacy in the business of ratings. In view of the “general public importance” of the petition regarding the violation of basic human rights by the media, the Committee urged the government to submit an action taken report within six months.

Suggesting that the regulatory framework could be modelled along the lines of the Press Council of India, the Committee, however, is of the view that it should be vested with more powers. Referring to the government’s proposal to put in place the Broadcasting Regulatory Authority of India and a new Content Code, the Committee said it expected the government to address all the issues raised by it while going ahead with the proposed legislation.

While the Committee has been looking into the issue of media coverage since October 2006 when a Patiala resident Gurjit Singh filed a petition regarding the misuse by the print and electronic media of the right to freedom of speech and expression, the report reflects on the live telecast of the recent Mumbai terror attacks.

About the Mumbai coverage, the Committee noted that the live footage shown by television channels to the viewers could also have been used as free intelligence input by the perpetrators sitting far away.

They allegedly guided the attackers to take appropriate emergent measures against the positions of security forces through satellite/mobile phones.

“Such live feed of commandos being air dropped directly endangers the success of operations and safety of hostages as well as security forces.”

While noting that the live coverage was partially restricted later because of “some good sense prevailing with suitable advisories,” the Committee added: “Needless to mention, self-regulation by media otherwise was not in place. The Committee expects the media to treat information of a sensitive nature carefully and endeavour to ensure that the interest of the nation and the lives of security forces and hostages in such type of operation are not jeopardised by live telecast … ”

The Committee also expressed concern over the repeated display of corpses during natural calamities, accidents and violence. Pointing out that news channels in many other countries did not provide such footage, the Committee advocated a similar approach by Indian channels.

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