Delhi High Court seeks status report from Centre after NBSA decides to take action against media channels on Rakul Preet's complaint

The Delhi High Court today sought a status report from the Central government after it was informed that the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) has decided to taken action against certain media channels on a complaint filed by actor Rakul Preet. (Rakul Preet vs UOI)

The order was passed by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Navin Chawla.

Counsel for Rakul Preet, Advocate Aman Hingorani, stated that it was now for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India to take action.

"Within seven days, the Broadcasters Association order has to reach the Ministry. There is order against Zee. For others, there is an order to take down. It is now for the Ministry to say what is it that it is doing. Some channels are not members of the NBA (News Broadcasters Association). Ministry has to take action against them.", Hingorani said.

Hingorani also stated that he intended to implead media houses which were not part of the NBA as a party to the present petition.

Following the submissions made by counsel for Preet, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma asked the Court to let the Ministry undertake "an independent appraisal".

Listing the matter for further hearing on March 4, the Court directed that apart from Centre's status report, the order passed by the Authority be also placed on record.

In its order passed on December 9, the NBSA headed by Justice AK Sikri (Retd) concluded that Zee News, Zee 24 Taas & Zee Hindustan broadcasted offensive content and directed them to issue an apology.

Certain other channels like ABP News, Times Now and Aaj Tak were also asked to take down offensive material.

Earlier this year, Rakul Preet had moved the High Court to restrain media from publishing and broadcasting any news on her in relation to the drug case till the NCB completed the investigation and filed an appropriate report/document before the competent court.

Hoping that media houses would show restraint and abide by the Programme Code and other guidelines, the court had directed NBSA to consider Preet's representation.