3 News Channels Issued Notice By Govt. For Their Reports On Yakub Memon’s Hanging

With the advent of so many media houses and the ease of subsequent passing of information to everyone, we as common people, are spoilt for choice.

Recently, Yakub Memon’s hanging became the hot topic of discussion during television prime-time, which may (or may not) have lead to some irresponsible reporting by reputed media houses of the country.

Because of that, Government has issued a notice to three news channels viz. ABP News, NDTV 24×7, Aaj Tak for challenging the decision of judiciary who was in favor of Yakub being hanged

Apparently, these news channels showed disrespect to the decision taken by the judiciary and the President of India. For that, The Union Information & Broadcasting Ministry has asked them as to why action should not be taken against them.

 

What did the content include?

ABP News & Aaj Tak – Phone-in interviews of Chhota Shakeel, where he claimed that Yakub was ‘innocent’. Adding to that, the why’s and how’s of the dismissal of four mercy petitions were discussed.

NDTV 24×7 – They aired an interview of Yakub Memon’s lawyer, who was not in favor of death penalty.

 

What sections are these news channel booked under?

1. Section 1(d)  which states that content containing “obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half-truths” should not be aired.

2. Section 1(e) which states that no program which is “likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promote anti-national attitudes” should be aired.

3. Section 1(g) bars channel that “contains aspersions against the integrity of the President and Judiciary”.

These three orders have been issued by the government to these news channel for a period of 1-30 days, after which the committee in question would review their response and decide the further course of action.

What do you think? Were these media houses just doing their job or did they went overboard?

News Source : Indian Express