The News Minute | December 31, 2014 | 12:37 pm IST
The home ministry has asked the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to ensure that there is no live television coverage of anti-terror operations, states a report by The Economic Times. It also wants to amend the Programme Code under the Cable Television Network Rules.
The suggestion was made in a letter to the I&B ministry earlier this month, and the latter is yet to respond to the home ministry. According to government officials, the Home ministry observed that live television coverage 'in places like Jammu and Kashmir or elsewhere not only affects the secrecy and effectiveness of the operation but also puts the safety of journalists in jeopardy', states the report.
After the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the I&B ministry had issued an advisory to media channels, asking them to be more cautious while covering terror activities. The National Broadcaster Association had also put out directives for TV channels, including restriction on live reporting of terror incidents, as part of a self-regulation exercise on the part of private broadcasters.
The Home Ministry is now seeking to make amendments to the 15-point Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 for this specific purpose, adds the report.