The Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 have been amended vide Notification No.GSR 416(E) dated 17.06.2021 thereby providing for a statutory mechanism for redressal of grievances/complaints of citizens relating to content broadcast by television channels. These rules are called the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021. The Rules provide that in order to ensure observance and adherence to the Programme Code and the Advertising Code by the broadcaster and to address the grievance or complaint, if any, relating thereto, there shall be a three-level structure (complaint redressal structure) as under: Level I - A self-regulation by broadcasters; Level II - Self-regulation by the self-regulating bodies of the broadcasters; and Level III - Oversight mechanism by the Central Government.

Any person aggrieved by the content of a programme of a channel as being not in conformity with the Programme Code or the Advertising Code may file his complaint in writing to the broadcaster or to Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) if such pertains to the Advertising codes laid by it. A broadcaster shall establish a grievance or complaint redressal mechanism and appoint an officer to deal with the complaints received by it. The broadcaster/ ASCII shall, within the stipulated time, takes a decision and communicate the same to the complainant. The grievances/ complaints which have not been addressed by the broadcaster shall be dealt and disposed of by the Self-regulating bodies (Level-II), registered by Central Government, within stipulated time.

As a part of oversight mechanism, Central Government has established an Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) for hearing grievances or complaints and refer to the IDC grievances or complaints arising out of the decision of the self-regulating body, or if no decision has been taken by the self-regulating body within the stipulated time, or on receipt of such other complaints or references relating to violation of Programme Code or Advertising Code as it may consider necessary. The IDC is chaired by the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and consists representatives from the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence. In March 2023, domain experts from Press Council of India (PCI), Bar Council of India (BCI), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have been included as IDC member.

The Government has also established Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) as state-of-the-art facility with a view to monitor and record the content of satellite TV channels with regard to violation of Programme and Advertisement Codes enshrined under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Rules framed thereunder. EMMC is equipped to monitor and record around 900 channels and currently monitors all permitted channels.(website of EMMC- www.emmc.gov.in) Ministry issues advisories to TV channels to adhere to program and advertising codes and in relation with other important issues from time to time.

A.  Grievance Redressal Mechanism To ensure observance and adherence to the Programme Code and the Advertising Code by the broadcaster and to address the grievance of complaint a three-level structure, as under, has been formed: -
Level I - A self-regulation by broadcasters
Level II - Self-regulation by the Self-Regulating Bodies of the broadcasters
Level III - Oversight mechanism by the Central Government

Filing and processing of Grievance and Complaint
i.  Any person aggrieved by the content of a programme of a channel as being not in conformity with the Programme Code or the Advertising Code may file his complaint in writing to the broadcaster: Provided that where such complaint relates to Advertising Code laid down by the Advertising Standards Council of India, such complaint may be addressed to the said Council and that Council shall deal with such complaint in accordance with the procedure laid down by it: Provided further that Advertising Standards Council of India shall take a decision on the complaint within sixty days of its receipt, and communicate the same to the broadcaster and the complainant.
ii.  The broadcaster shall, within twenty-four hours of complaint being filed, generate and issue an acknowledgement to the complainant for his information and record.
iii.  Every complaint shall be dealt with in the following manner, namely: -
(a)   the broadcaster shall dispose of the complaint and inform the complainant of its decision within fifteen days of receipt of such complaint;
(b)   if the decision of the broadcaster is not communicated to the complainant within the stipulated period of fifteen days, or if the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the broadcaster, he may prefer an appeal to the self-regulating body of which such broadcaster is a member, within fifteen days therefrom;
(c)   the self-regulating body shall dispose of the appeal within sixty days of receipt of appeal and convey its decision in the form of a guidance or advisory to the broadcaster, and inform the complainant of such decision within a period of fifteen days;
(d)   where the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the self-regulating body, he may, within fifteen days of such decision, prefer an appeal to the Central Government for its consideration under the Oversight Mechanism.

B.  Self-regulating Body (SRBs) Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021 provide a three level structure for to ensure observance and adherence to the Programme Code and Advertising Code. It provide for Self regulation by Self Regulatory Bodies (SRBs) of the broadcasters as Level II. SRBs are independent bodies constituted by the broadcasters and registered by the Ministry of I&B. They are headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court or by an independent eminent person from relevant field. The SRBs shall have members being experts from the relevant fields. At present two self-regulating bodies have been registered by Ministry of I&B as under:
(a)   Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) for regulation of content non-news Private Satellite TV Channel:
Click here to see TV channels registered with BCCC
Click here to visit the website of BCCC
(b)   News Broadcasters Federation - Professional News Broadcasting Standards Authority" (NBF-PNBSA) for regulation of content non-news Private Satellite TV Channels
Click here to see TV channels registered with NBF-PNBSA
Click here to visit the website of NBF-PNBSA

C.  State/ District Level Monitoring Committees This Ministry has issued detailed guidelines subsuming all the earlier orders regarding constitution of State/ District level Monitoring Committees to monitor the content broadcast on private TV channels and also authorizes these committees to monitor content broadcast on private FM Radio Channels and Community Radio Stations. So far, State Level Monitoring Committees have been set up in 18 States, 5 Union Territories and District Level committees in 347 Districts.
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