Changes do come. Power is applied when something goes out of bound in the name of freedom. The media should think twice before airing any deliberate defamatory program without proper evidences.
The information and broadcasting ministry on Friday directed all private satellite TV channels to strictly adhere to the programme code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act and emphasised that they should not air content that is slanderous, defamatory or based on false innuendos and half truths.
The government advisory was issued on the back of a plea moved by actor Rakul Preet Singh in the Delhi HC where she alleged that TV channels ran defamatory programmes against her in connection with a drugs probe related to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.
On September 17, the Delhi HC, while responding to her appeal for interim relief, ordered, “It is hoped that media houses and TV channels would show restraint in their reporting and abide by the provisions of the programme code, both statutory and self-regulatory, while making any report in relation to the petitioner.”
The advisory asked channels to comply with the Delhi HC’s order and said it had, on various occasions in the past, issued advisories to private TV channels to broadcast content adhering to the codes.