Warned 2 TV channels in last 3 years over superstition: Government

NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has in the last three years issued warnings to two TV channels and issued advisories on at least four occasions regarding programmes that promote superstition and blind belief.

An advisory was issued to a channel in September 2011 over telecast of programme showing superstition and blind belief, said I&B Minister of State Rajyavardhan Rathore in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

The ministry subsequently issued advisories to all TV channels on three more occasions.

In March 2014, warnings were issued to two TV channels over programmes that promoted superstition and blind belief, he said.

In a written reply to another question, Rathore said the ministry had been informed by security agencies about carriage of some unregistered foreign channels by cable operators.

He said that as per the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 enforcement is envisaged primarily through authorised officers who are district magistrate, sub divisional magistrate and Commissioner of Police of the state governments.

Rathore said whenever a complaint is brought to the notice of the Ministry, it is sent to the authorised officers.