to the reply given to Starred Question No. 360 dated August 19, 2004 regarding violence
and obscenity in DD programmes and state:
(a) whether there is an increase of obscenity and violence being shown on the TV
programmes/ advertisements by various Indian and foreign channels in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is taking any steps to stop the programmes which are
being shown through uplinking from other countries; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND CULTURE (SHRI S. JAIPAL REDDY)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF
LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 48 FOR ANSWER ON 03/03/2005
(a) & (b) Programmes and advertisements of all satellite TV channels (whether
uplinked from India or abroad), transmitted/retransmitted through the cable
network are required to adhere to the Programme and Advertising Code prescribed
under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and rules framed
thereunder.
Action for violations of the codes can be taken by any authorised officer i.e.
SDM, DM or Commissioner of Police or any other officer notified in the official
gazette by the Central Government or State Government. The Central Government
has constituted two inter-ministerial committees under Section 20 of the Cable
Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 to look into the violations of the
Programme and Advertising Code.
(c) & (d): The Government is examining the issue of introducing downlinking
guidelines to regulate the content of satellite TV channels which are uplinked from
other countries and are downlinked in India for public viewership. The Government
is also considering setting up a regulatory authority for regulation of broadcasting
content.