The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has ordered NDTV’s Hindi news channel, NDTV India, to go off air for one day on November 9/10 for violating the programming code during its coverage of the Pathankot terrorist attack in January.

This is for the first time that a news channel has been penalised after the Programming Code was amended and notified by the I&B Ministry last year.

In its November 2 order, the Ministry prohibited “transmission or re-transmission of NDTV India channel for one day on any platform throughout India with effect from 00:01 hours on November 9 till 00:01 hours of November 10”. An email to the NDTV spokesperson went unanswered.

An Inter-Ministerial Committee concluded that the news channel “had not shown restraint, responsibility and sensitivity, and revealed strategically-sensitive details,” while covering the Pathankot terrorist attack.

After deliberations, the Committee said, “Having considered that this is the first instance of violation of the newly inserted provision in the programme code,” it recommended that a “ minimum penalty” of taking the channel off air for a day.

The Committee said NDTV India violated Rule 6 (1) (p) of the Programme Code of the Cable TV Networks Rules 1994.

Considering all options

In a statement, NDTV confirmed that it has received the order from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and said it is examining all options in this matter.

"It is shocking that NDTV has been singled out in this manner. Every channel and newspaper had similar coverage. In fact, NDTV's coverage was particularly balanced. After the dark days of the emergency when the press was fettered, it is extraordinary that NDTV is being proceeded against in this manner. NDTV is examining all options in this matter," the statement added.

The Ministry had first sent a show-cause notice to NDTV in January after it observed that the channel had given away crucial information while reporting the Pathankot terrorist attack, which was likely to be used by the terrorists themselves or their handlers to cause massive harm to national security and the life of civilians and Defence personnel.

Subjective interpretation In its response, the channel stated that this was a case of “subjective interpretation” and that its coverage was “entirely balanced and responsible” and “conformed to the strictest norms”.

In August, an Inter-Ministerial Committee considered the matter and gave the channel’s representative an opportunity for a personal hearing.

(This copy has been modified to add NDTV's statement)

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