Andhra High Court asks news channels to toe the line

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has imposed certain rules on electronic media and has directed 13 TV news channels not transmit or telecast any programmes which could create panic in the minds of the general public..The Court was hearing a PIL by advocate Kameswara Rao, who was seeking a restraint order on a news channel that had been repeatedly telecasting provocative speeches that could create enmity amongst various groups in the state..The judge, in his four-page order, stated that these channels were creating sensationalism and indulging in acts which were injurious to harmony among different groups to improve viewership. On account of these improper visuals, people are becoming violent and creating havoc in the state, the judge noted..The judge directed the state government to ensure that the channels comply with the programme code as envisaged in Rule 6 of the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994. Rule 6 states that no programme should be carried by the cable service which offends good taste or decency, contains criticism of friendly countries, contains attack on religions or communities or visuals or words contemptuous of religious groups or which promote communal attitudes, contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendoes and half truths, which may incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitude etc.