THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SMT. AMBIKA SONI )
(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.
266 FOR ANSWER ON 15.03.2011
(a) to (c) The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), an industry body representing major
satellite TV channels, is in the process of setting up a two tier self-regulatory mechanism
on content for entertainment channels with the first tier at the level of broadcaster
and the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) at the second tier. Consultations
have taken place between the Ministry and IBF to finalize the broad structure of the proposed
BCCC.
The BCCC is proposed to be a 13 Member body consisting of a Chairperson being a retired judge
of Supreme Court or High Court and 12 other Members. Of these 12 Members, four will be drawn
from among the broadcasters, four will be persons of eminence and repute from outside the
industry and four will be from the Statutory National Commissions. In the last category, the
National Commissions will be mandatorily represented by National Commission for Women (NCW),
the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and National Commission for
Scheduled Castes (NCSC). The fourth Member will be selected for a meeting of BCCC depending
on the nature of the complaint, to represent other National Commissions like National
Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Other Backward Classes, National
Commission for Minorities, National Human Rights Commission. It is envisaged that either
the Chairperson of the Commission or a Member of the Commission will be
represented on the BCCC.
The BCCC will have the mandate to look into all complaints relating to violation of Code by
entertainment channels, and give suitable directions to concerned channels to modify or
withdraw any objectionable content. Since majority of the members of BCCC are drawn from
persons of eminence and from Statutory Commissions, the BCCC is likely to provide a
credible and acceptable self regulatory mechanism for addressing the issues relating to
objectionable content on TV channels.
(d) &(e) : The Press Council of India (PCI), an autonomous body, was set up under the Press
Council Act, 1978 for preserving the freedom of press and maintaining and improving the
standard of newspapers and news agencies in India and for inculcating the principles of
self regulation among the press. PCI has proposed amendments in the Press Council Act, 1978
to arm the Press Council with more powers for effective implementation of its directives.
The amendments to the Act will be drafted carefully after carrying out wide consultations
with the stakeholders and evolving consensus on the important issues relating to the media.
