NBSA Slams TV Channels For Vilifying Reports Against Rakul Preet Singh

MATTER IN ISSUE:

• The reports were being run by various television channels in the context of the reporting of the Sushant Singh Rajput case.

• The channels claimed that Rhea Chakraborty gave a statement to the Narcotics Control Bureau that RakulPreet Singh was involved in drugs.

• However, the authority found that most of these channels omitted to report the retraction statement of Rhea Chakraborty whereby she denied making any such disclosure to the NCB.

• RakulPreet Singh had approached the Delhi High Court seeking action against the channels under the Program Code framed under the Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act.

HIGH COURT PROCEEDINGS AND NBSA

• In September, the High Court, after observing that the media should exercise restraint, passed an interim order directing the NBSA to pass orders on the actor’s complaints against the reports.

• Following that, the NBSA, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri, passed the directions.

• NBSA stands for News Broadcasting Standards Authority to consider and adjudicate upon complaints about broadcasts.

• It is an independent body set up by the News Broadcasters Association comprising of nine members of which an eminent jurist acting as the Chairperson.

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE NBSA

• Dr.AmanHingorani, counsel representing RakulPreet Singh, submitted before the authority that the news reports were fake and baseless as a result of which the complainant suffered not only commercial losses but also loss of reputation and infringement of right to privacy.

• He submitted that the reports violated the Code of Ethics and the Guidelines of the NBSA relating to Impartiality, Objectivity, Neutrality and Accuracy and that they did not fall within the realm of fair reporting.

• The News Broadcasting Standards Authority(NBSA) has found the news channels Zee News, Zee 24 Taas, Zee Hindustani, TimesNow, India Today, AajTak, India TV, News Nation and ABP News at fault for their vilifying and slanderous reports linking Hindi film actor RakulPreet Singh to drugs.

DECISION OF THE NBSA

• The three channels of Zee Network have been asked to air a public apology on December 17 prior to the 9 PM news with regard to their reports mentioningRakulPreet Singh.

• The other channels were issued a warning with respect to their use of hashtags/taglines and images against the actor and were cautioned to exercise more care and not to broadcast "unverified and incorrect information”.

• The NBSA directed all channels to immediately remove the offensive videos, if still available on their websites or YouTube or other links, and to report the same to the authority within 7 days.

What do you think about the High Court’s decision? Let us know in the comments section below!