National Press watchdog may get more teeth

New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI) The Government is considering giving more teeth to national press watchdong Press Council of India.

''A proposal to provide more penal powers to the PCI is under consideration in the Ministry,''Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told the Lok Sabha today in a written reply.

He said a number of instances of obscenity and vulgarity in media had been brought to the notice of the Ministry and it had so far issued 195 show cause notices to TV channels for violation of the Programme and Advertising Code.

However, the Minister said the Supreme Court had given no formal direction to the Ministry to check these trends.

''Development of a new content code in consultation with the media industry is in the process. Government is considering a proposal to set up a Broadcasting Services Regulator through suitable legislation,'' said Mr Dasmunsi.

PCI chairman had recently expressed the opinion that in view of the changing profile of the print media, the Council would like to have some more penal powers.

UNI NAZ VD RN1824