The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for failing to regulate astrology-based shows on television.
A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw, which was hearing a petition filed by NGO Sai Lok Kalyan Sanstha, asked the ministry, “What is the procedure which you follow to look into complaints? These are not mere advertisements, these are programs. You are telling us about cable TV regulations, what about DTH?”
“We will pass appropriate orders,” the bench said.
During the hearing, the ministry submitted that it had taken action against several advertisements which carried objectionable material and Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI) is the designated body to look into complaints.
The ministry further said that while deliberating on complaints received by Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI), it was observed that the advertisements made unsubstantiated claims and violated provisions of code for self-regulation.
The high court had earlier sought programme code for monitoring the broadcasting by electronic media from the I&B Ministry.
The plea filed by Ajay Gautam, president of the NGO, had alleged that “huge amount of money is changing hands and the physical and mental well being of citizen is at stake.”
