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The proposed panel would be headed by I&B ministry secretary
Naveen Chawla and is likely to have some representation from other
ministries too, including law and home.
However, some industry observers described this proposed government
panel as another step towards controlling of the media and taking
steps to promote Indian pubcaster Doordarshan, which is set to launch
a KU-band DTH service, but is finding it difficult to market it
commercially in the absence of popular entertainment channels on
the platform.
Earlier this month, during the first hearing of the PIL, filed
by the Delhi-based Centre for Media Studies chairman N Bhaskara
Rao, also considered close to I&B ministry Jaipal Reddy, the
court directed the government to revert within a month's time with
a detailed reply on the issues raised by the petitioner.
At the moment, apart from the proposed DD venture, there is only
one DTH service operational in the country and that is promoted
by Subhash Chandra companies under the brand name Dish TV. An application
from Tata-Star combine seeking a licence for a DTH service is still
pending with the I&B ministry, despite having clearances from
other places, including the home ministry.
Petitioner Rao, who has pointed fingers at the usual suspects like
national security, has stated that "the security clearances
given" by the government to respondent No. 4 to the case (Dish
TV) for starting a DTH service is "not at all foolproof and
many compromises are being made at the cost of national security."
Pointing out that the existing security clearance procedure needs
review and tightening so as also to protect India's cultural heritage.
Rao in his petition has further stated that the existing DTH guidelines
have been framed with the backing of a national policy and are not
at all adequate and foolproof, especially against facilitating in
accessing pornographic channel/content by a subscriber of a DTH
service and also in the transmission of secret messaging and possible
misuse of communication channel by terrorist groups.
Also Read:
PIL
filed in Delhi HC seeks probe into porn on DTH
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