Information and Broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu convened a meeting here, where issues related to telecast of “unpermitted” TV channels, including Peace TV, were discussed.
Emerging from the meeting, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said there are reports that channels that are not licensed are being broadcast.
“The I&B ministry issues licence to some channels, only those channels are allowed to be broadcast by MSOs and cable operators. We are issuing advisories to district advisory committees and also to the state monitoring committees that they should cleanly observe the cable operators what they are broadcasting,” Rahore said.
He added: “Any content being broadcast in violation to the guidelines, action will be taken against them to the extent that confiscation of their entire broadcasting equipment.”
He said the Ministry of Home Affairs had been asked to keep a track on such broadcasts and report to the I&B ministry for appropriate action. Social media would also be used to receive any complaints against unauthorised channels.
Rathore said the government was acting keeping in mind reports of content aired on Peace TV. “We discussed any objectionable content that is being broadcast beyond the permission given to broadcasters, including Peace TV that you are referring to,” Rathore said.
Official sources said Peace TV did not have the permission to be broadcast in India, despite which it is distributed by some cable operators. “The channel had applied for a licence in 2008-09 but was refused,” a senior official said.