ProMASS, Nov 4, 2016: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry’s inter-ministerial committee has recommended that news channel NDTV India be taken off air for 24 hours for revealing strategically-sensitive information during the course of its coverage of the anti-terror operations at the Pathankot airbase earlier this year.
The order has imposed a blackout prohibiting the transmission of the channel for one day on any platform throughout India from 12.01 am of 9th November to 12.01 am 10th November. The committee’s order refered to NDTV’s news telecast on 4th January while counter operations by the security forces were still on at the Pathankot airbase.
It states that the reporter on ground, while replying to questions posed by the anchor, gave out strategically-sensitive information. The order mentions that the channel disclosed details about the location of an ammunition depot also gave out details of schools and residential areas located at the airbase, endangering the lives of civilians. The inter-ministerial committee has noted that the telecast was in clear violation of the programme code under Cable TV Network Rules, 1994, which prevents live coverage of anti-terrorist operations by security forces.
Until the operations conclude, the rules also limit media coverage to only the briefing given by designated officials which in this case is the DIG, NSG. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry’s action against NDTV India is the first case of violation of provisions inserted into the programme code last year.
Courtesy: AIR NEWS
