ASG says that 214 channels were taken action against since 2013 by the Ministry for violations under the Programme Code.
ASG tells the Court that the Centre takes action unless it falls under 19(2) of the Constitution i.e. Freedom of Speech.
Court asks ASG how it is enforced, considering the action can be challenged in the courts of law.
“These are Guidelines,” the bench says.
ASG appears and says that if channels are members, the complaints by aggrieved persons are forwarded the NBSA by the Ministry.
The Court had also asked the Centre as to why guidelines of private bodies such as the News Broadcasters Standards Authority (NBSA) to regulate the content broadcast by TV news channels cannot be ratified and enforced by the Union.
ASG Anil Singh to answer today.
On the last date of hearing, Sr. Adv. Arvind Datar for News Broadcasters Standards Association submitted that the current regime of self-regulation of should not be meddled with as it was working well, albeit with minuscule aberrations.