IB asks channels not to carry reports about troop movement

New Delhi, Apr 11: Complying with an order of the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry today asked the media not to telecast any programme pertaining to the movement of Indian troops.

The ministry has said the High Court in the matter pertaining to a petition filed by Nutan Thakur had considered the issue of reports related to movement of troops in the media.

The ministry said the court had directed "the Secretary, Home Affairs, and the Secretary, Information. Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, and the Principal Secretary (Home), government of UP, to ensure that there is no reporting/release of any news item by Print as well as Electronic Media" relating the movement of troops.

In its advisory, the I and B ministry said Rule 6(1)(f) of the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994, provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service which contains anything amounting to contempt of court.

The ministry said that now all private satellite TV channels should strictly follow the directions of the High Court as "violation in the matter shall not only amount to contempt of the court but also violation of the Programme Code".

Violations would invite strict action as per the Law governing Contempt of Court and also as per the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, rules and the terms and conditions of uplinking and downlinking guidelines, the ministry said.

PTI