Stay on TV show: If you want guidelines, regulate digital media first, Centre tells SC

The Centre urged the Supreme Court on Thursday to confine the matter regarding the Sudarshan TV show Bindass Bol, whose telecast had earlier been stayed by the Court, to the channel alone, and not lay down “any further guidelines” for the entire mainstream media.

In an affidavit, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting added that however “if” the “Court decides to undertake the exercise, it should first be undertaken with regard to digital media as there already exist sufficient framework and judicial pronouncements with regard to electronic media and print media”.

A three-judge Bench of the Court had on September 15 restrained Sudarshan TV from airing the remaining episodes of the show, which it had been promoting with the hashtag UPSC_Jihad. While doing so, it had hinted that it plans to set up a panel to suggest guidelines for electronic media.