BCR NEWS (NEW DELHI): The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry has cancelled the “permission” of 73 TV channels, 24 FM channels and nine newspapers/periodicals for violations in recent years.
In response to a question in Rajya Sabha, minister of state for I&B Rajyavardhan Rathore said, “For violating the provisions of uplinking guidelines, the permission of 73 TV channels has been cancelled till date.”
These include Just TV, Khaas, Mohua Punjabi, Mohua Telegu, Vision Entertainment and Key TV among others whose licences were cancelled because the channels were not operationalised within the stipulated period of a year. Others like Focus NE, Focus Haryana, STV Haryana, Lemon TV were yanked off air because the home ministry denied security clearance. At present, 892 private satellite TV channels are registered in the country.
The ministry has also revoked the licences of 24 FM channels of six private broadcasters for violation of provisions of the grant of permission agreement (GOPA) signed by them with the government. The ministry has granted permission to 42 private channels and 196 community radio stations in the country.
The ministry, through the Registrar of Newspapers of India, has cancelled the registration of nine newspapers and periodicals.
The ministry is also working towards tightening norms for the print media. “Realising the need to update and revise the legal mechanism in print sector, owing to phenomenal growth after liberalisation of government policies, I&B ministry has initiated the Press and Registration of Books and Publications (PRBP) Bill with a view to replace the existing PRB Act, 1867,” the minister said.
