Nothing sells like crime and sex in the media. In the name of attracting viewers thereby gaining TRP ratings, the television channels have been showing repeated scenes of violence, particularly broad day light murders in the name of ‘honour killings.’
But not anymore. The Telangana police on Thursday came up with a notification banning repeated telecast of “honour killings” which was in violation of Program Code under Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995.
Telangana DGP M Mahender said certain television channels had been telecasting content consisting of gory scenes of violence repeatedly in the name of "honour killings," which was likely to provoke violence leading to further such incidents. This amounts to violation of the law.
“The managements of all television channels are requested to follow the Program Code as prescribed under Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, in telecasting any content in the interest and well-being of the society,” the DGP said.
The prescribed rules ban telecasting of any content that is against good taste or decency and contains criticism of friendly countries, attack on religions or communities or visuals or words contemptuous of religious groups or which promote communal attitudes, obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half-truths and is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promote anti-national attitudes.
The content should also not encourage superstition or blind belief, denigrates women and children among other things.