After row, Centre set to overhaul TV watchdog

More representatives may be inducted into panel.

In the wake of the NDTV controversy, the Central government is likely to restructure the inter-ministerial committee that looks at content code violations by various television channels. The Modi government may launch discussions with various stakeholders in the media sector to strengthen the institution, bring in more representatives and create a streamlined appeal process for any future action.

Sources said that Union information and broadcasting minister M. Venkaiah Naidu is open to the idea of wider dialogue on the issue of restructuring the IMC. Currently, the inter-ministerial committee comprised joint secretaries home, defence, I&B, health and family welfare, consumer affairs, law and justice, external affairs, women and child development and representative of the Advertising Standards Council of India.

Sources said the government may also consider taking in representatives of self-regulatory bodies like the News Broadcast Standards Authority and the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council into the IMC if such demands are made by the industry.

It is understood that a formal appeals process to the IMC directives is also likely to be put into place and a decision on this is likely after detailed discussions with various stakeholders. Currently, there is no provision for such an appeal at the government level and the aggreived party can only approach the courts for any recourse.

The information and broadcasting ministry had on Monday decided to “put on hold” the order to impose one-day ban on NDTV India, after the broadcaster requested that the decision be reviewed.

It is understood that the decision was been put on hold till the time the appeal is disposed of and after a delegatipon led by NDTV co-chairman Prannoy Roy met I&B Minister Naidu requesting the same.

The I&B ministry had on November 2 ordered that hindi channel NDTV India be taken off air for a day concluding that it had violated the guidelines in its coverage of the Pathankot terror attack.