MUMBAI :The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry has issued an advisory to the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and News Broadcasters Association (NBA) to direct their member channels not to telecast any news item which may endanger the life of a person.
In the advisory, I&B ministry has also desired IBF and NBA to ensure that their member channels exercise restraint in selection of their content for broadcast.
The ministry has issued the advisory on a request from National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). The commission had raised objection by writing to the ministry on the repeated telecast of the live interview of the balloon seller who is a key witness to the Delhi blast.
The NCPCR said that it has found the act of media as insensitive and negligent which endangered the life of Rahul, a 12-year boy, with no one to protect or advise him of the serious consequences. It has also observed that media exhibited reckless behaviour and instead of having concern for the safety they allowed the identity of the child to be exhibited to the nation in their attempt to encash on the sad tragedy.