Why not have statutory body to regulate TV news content? Bom HC asks

The Bombay High Court on Monday asked the Union government why there should not be a statutory body to regulate the content broadcast through television news channels, a poser coming in the backdrop of frenzied media coverage of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.

The court sought to know why the electronic media should have an “open hand” over its coverage.

“Is there a statutory mechanism for (TV news) broadcasters?” the HC asked.

“Just as how the Press Council of India exists for the print media, why don’t you (Union government) think of a similar council for the electronic media? Why should they have an open hand?” said a bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni.