NBDSA Slams News18 India For Generalising Sensitive Issues, Directs It To Remove News Debate Video On Jahangirpuri Demolition

The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority has slammed the News18 India for its "tendency" to generalise sensitive issues and its unncessary use of offending tickers like 'jihadi' on the screen.

"Had the debate [been] confined to the menace of illegal constructions and the steps that are required to contain such illegal constructions, there could not have been any problem. However, the narrative of the programme gave an altogether different tilt and in the process violated the guidelines prescribed in the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards which was impermissible," said the NBDSA Chairperson Justice A.K Sikri (retd.) in an order.

The order has been filed on a complaint filed by Indrajeet Ghorpade with regard to a news debate aired by the channel on April 20. The programme was purportedly on the "anti-encroachment drive" in Delhi's Jahangirpuri. The complaint said the anchor without any basis claimed that people subjected to the demolition drive were "jihadi", "Rohingya" and "dangai", who were seeking "kanuni cover fire".

NBDSA in the order said since television is a powerful medium of expression, the broadcaster should exercise extreme care and caution while reporting any event, so as to not disturb the communal harmony in the country.

The self-regulatory body held the programme to be violative of Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards, Guidelines on Broadcast of Potentially Defamatory Content particularly Clauses 2 and 5 which state "Broadcasters must remain aware of the risk of being culpable in accordance with law for any defamatory matter that may be carried in their news/programmes, even if the offending matter is a repetition by them of a statement made by someone else" and "A news anchor/journalist/presenter should not make any derogatory, derisive or judgemental statements as part of reporting or commentating."

"The broadcast had also violated the principles of Impartiality, Neutrality, Fairness and Good Taste & Decency as stipulated under the Specific Guidelines Covering Reportage," said the NBDSA.

Keeping in mind the repetitive nature of the violations, the NBDSA expressed strong disapproval of the broadcast and directed the channel to to remove the video of the programme from its website and all platforms and said same should be confirmed to NBDSA in writing within 7days of receipt of the Order.