I&B ministry asks channels not to telecast 26/11 footage

The government has asked the media not to broadcast any clips perataining to the Mumbai terror case following an order issued by a special court in Mumbai hearing the case.

The information and broadcasting ministry's move came after apprehensions were voiced that such telecasts would seriously jeopardise the proceedings in the case.

"It is hereby ordered that any of the proceedings pending before this court in sessions case number 175/09 shall not be published in any manner by anybody till further orders of this court," said additional sessions judge ML Tahilyani while hearing public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

The prosecution had moved an application under section 44 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The application said some sections of the print and electronic media had started publishing the proceedings pending before the court, resulting in part of the evidence being disclosed on TV channels before being adduced in court.

The section allows the court to pass an order banning publication of all or any of the proceedings pending before it, if it is in the public interest, in case the court is satisfied that the life of a witness or witnesses is in danger.

In view of the ministry's advice, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) sent out a circular to news channels and their editors, asking them to desist from running "any programme or news reports containing the text or details or any other similar material relating to Ajmal".

In its advisory, the media association suggested that running such programmes or reports would be a violation of the 'Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards & Guidelines' issued by it.

The advisory to the members, issued by NBA secretary-general Annie Joesph, also said such programmes or news reports may be "prejudicial to the national interest" or may "interfere" with the course of justice and may therefore amount to "contempt of court".