NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JAN 20
Ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22, the government on Saturday issued an advisory against the spread of unverified, provocative and fake messages.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting urged newspapers, television channels, digital news publishers and social media platforms to refrain from publishing or telecasting any content that may be false or manipulated or has the potential to disturb communal harmony or public order.
- Govt issues advisory to media ahead of Ram temple consecration ceremony
- The Centre underline the provisions of the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act and norms of journalistic conduct laid down by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act
“Further, as part of their due diligence obligations, the social media platforms have been advised to make reasonable efforts to not host, display or publish information of the nature mentioned above,” said an official statement.
The ministry further underlined the provisions of the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act and norms of journalistic conduct laid down by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act.
The consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya will be held on January 22 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other dignitaries in attendance.
The new 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla, carved by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple on Thursday afternoon.
Norms of Journalistic Conduct
“Accuracy and Fairness: i) The Press shall eschew publication of inaccurate, baseless, graceless, misleading or distorted material.
Caste, Religion or Community References: vi) It is the duty of the newspaper to ensure that the tone, spirit and language of a write up is not objectionable, provocative, against the unity and integrity of the country, spirit of the constitution, seditious and inflammatory in nature or designed to promote communal disharmony.
Paramount National Interest: i) Newspapers shall, as a matter of self-regulation, exercise due restraint and caution in presenting any news, comment or information which is likely to jeopardise, endanger or harm the paramount interests of the State and society, or the rights of individuals with respect to which reasonable restrictions may be imposed by law on the right to freedom of speech and expression under clause (2) of Article 19 of the Constitution of India.”
Programme Code
“Rule 6 (1) No programme should be carried in the cable service which:-
(c) Contains attack on religions or communities or visuals or words contemptuous of religious groups or which promote communal attitudes;
(d) Contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half truths;
(e) is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promote anti-national attitudes;”
The Ministry has issued advisories from time to time for television, print, and digital media, including social media platforms, to maintain adherence to applicable norms and regulations applicable to the media, especially in matters related to public order, factual accuracy of information being published/broadcast, and communal harmony among various religious communities of India.
