Cable Television Network Rules Amended
Source : PIB
GS II : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Why in News ?

The Central Government issued a notification amending the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 thereby providing a statutory mechanism for redressal of grievances/complaints of citizens relating to content broadcast by television channels in accordance with the provisions of the Cable Television Network Act, 1995.

Key Facts

• Cable Television Network Rules Amended to provide for this statutory mechanism, which would be transparent and benefit the citizens.
• At the same time, self-regulating bodies of broadcasters would be registered with the Central Government.
• At present there are over 900 television channels which have been granted permission by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting all of which are required to comply with the Programme and Advertising Code laid down under the Cable Television Network Rules.
• This is significant as it paves the way for a strong institutional system for redressing grievances while placing accountability and responsibility on the broadcasters and their self-regulating bodies.
• This will bring the television’s self-regulatory mechanism at par with that being set-up for OTT players and digital news publishers, as envisaged in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
• Cable Television Network Rules Amended Given the viewers a civil mechanism for their grievances to be addressed which was missing till now and had led to people filing FIRs against the makers of web shows and the platforms on which they were available.

Need for Amendment

• At present there is an institutional mechanism by way of an Inter-Ministerial Committee to address grievances of citizens relating to violation of the Programme/Advertising Codes under the Rules.

  

• Similarly various broadcasters have also developed their internal self-regulatory mechanism for addressing grievances.
• A need was felt to lay down a statutory mechanism for strengthening the grievance redressal structure.
• Some broadcasters had also requested for giving legal recognition to their associations/bodies.
• The Hon’ble Supreme Court in its order in the matter of Common Cause Vs Union of India & Others while expressing satisfaction over the existing mechanism of grievance redressal set up by the Central Government, had advised to frame appropriate rules to formalize the complaint redressal mechanism.

What is the Grievance Redressal Mechanism and How it Works ?

• Rules stipulate a three layer grievance redressal mechanism
  1. Self-regulation by broadcasters
  2. Self-regulation by the self-regulating bodies of broadcasters
  3. An oversight mechanism by the Central government.
• Each broadcaster is required to establish a grievance or complaint redressal mechanism
  • Appoint an officer to deal with the complaints
  • Display the contact details of their grievance officer on their website or interface and be a member of a self-regulating body.
• Self-regulation by broadcasters : Any person aggrieved by the content of a programme of a channel may file his/her complaint in writing to the broadcaster first.
  • The broadcaster shall within 24 hours of a complaint being filed generate and issue an acknowledgement to the complainant for his information and record.
  • The broadcaster shall dispose of the complaint and inform the complainant of its decision within 15 days of receipt of such complaint.
• Appeal with the self-regulatory body : Complainant If they are not satisfied with the decision of the broadcaster’s grievance redressal officer or the decision of the broadcaster is not communicated to them within the stipulated period of 15 days.
  • Self-regulating body shall dispose of the appeal within 60 days of the receipt of the appeal.
  • Convey its decision in the form of guidance or advisory to the broadcaster.
  • Inform the complainant of such decision within 15.
• Appeal to the Central government : complainant, not satisfied with the decision of the self-regulating body, he may, within 15 days of such decision.
  • Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) will hear complaints regarding the violation of the advertising code, take a decision within 60 days of the receipt of a complaint.
  • Communicate the same to the broadcaster and the complainant.

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