Broadcast Bill will be delayed: Dasmunsi

New Delhi, July 31: The government today indicated that the controversial Broadcast Bill is unlikely to be brought in Parliament during the current session.

The draft Bill, which had drawn flak for being aimed at curtailing freedom of the media, is still at the consultation stage, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told the Lok Sabha.

The Ministry is considering a ''comrehensive legislation'' to regulate the broadcasting media in consultation with the media and the concerned ministries, he said during Question Hour.

''The proposal is still at consultation stage and the details have yet to be finalised,'' Mr Dasmunsi said in a statement laid on the table of the Lower House.

Elaborating the statement, he said the Deve Gowda government in 1997 and the Vajapyee government that followed it wanted to bring a Bill for regulating cable TV network and community radio.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had also observed in 1995 that a broadcast policy would only be proper, he added.

''We are considering the latest scenario and we are for maintaining the independence and freedom of the media,'' Mr Dasmunsi said.

There was obscenity on television channels after midnight and ''this has to be stopped'', he added.

UNI

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