I&B Ministry
Lemon News warned for airing programme promoting superstition & blind belief
NEW DELHI: Lemon TV has been warned by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for telecasting a programme ‘Khauf ke 10 Destinations’ on 11 December, 2013 referring to 10 places in Mumbai, which it claimed are haunted and where there was dominance of evil spirits and invisible powers.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee, which had received a reply to its show-cause notice and even heard channel representatives in October last year said ‘strict compliance’ may be ensured by Lemon News TV Channel.
Any further violation shall entail such action against Lemon News TV channel as deemed fit in accordance with the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the Rules framed thereunder as also the terms and conditions of the permission/approval granted under uplinking/downlinking, the MIB said.
The channel, in its reply to the show-cause notice, said it had not only clarified in the programme that it did not believe in such superstitions, but had interviewed people who said these stories related to the past. When asked to appear before the IMC, the channel representatives had tendered an apology.
However, the IMC said the channel presented the so-called incidents in an overtly sensational manner thereby appearing to instill superstition in the minds of viewers. It was noted by IMC that the channel created horrifying sound effects and also created images of ghost during the telecast of this programme giving the whole programme a horrendous look.
The IMC thus observed that the telecast of the programme seemed to promote blind belief and superstition and there was clear violation of the provisions of the programme code, particularly Rules 6(1)(a), 6(1) (i) and 6(1) (o).
The IMC noted that even though the channel had apologized for the lapse, it could not escape the responsibility of ensuring content on their channel, which must be in conformity with the programme code at all times.
Lemon TV had shown a number of stories connected with evil spirits and also telecast bytes of local people who seem to have experienced these incidents. The reporting appeared to be intended to generate fear, anxiety and phobia in the minds of the viewers. Telecasting such programme in a news channel appeared to sensationalise with little news value. This programme appeared to offend good taste and decency, encourages superstition or blind belief as also, the programme did not appear suitable for unrestricted public exhibition, the IMC said.
I&B Ministry
MeitY proposes tighter rules for digital platforms and intermediaries
Fresh amendments aim to formalise government directions and expand content oversight.
MUMBAI: When the rulebook gets an upgrade, even the internet might need to sit up and pay attention because India’s digital regulators are clearly not scrolling idly. India’s technology regulators have proposed a fresh set of amendments to the country’s digital media and intermediary liability framework, seeking to expand oversight of online content and formalise the government’s authority to issue binding directions to platforms.
In a notice issued on 30 March, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) invited public comments on changes to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The revisions are described as “clarificatory and procedural” but are clearly aimed at strengthening compliance and enforcement.
At the heart of the proposal is a significant shift in how intermediaries, including social media platforms, respond to government advisories. A newly inserted provision would make compliance with official “clarifications, advisories, directions, standard operating procedures and guidelines” a formal part of the due diligence obligations required for platforms to retain legal immunity under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. This change effectively elevates government communications from guidance to enforceable obligations, tightening the regulatory loop between the state and digital platforms.
The amendments also expand the scope of content oversight under Part III of the rules, which governs digital media ethics. The proposed revisions clarify that the code will apply not only to publishers but also to intermediaries hosting news and current affairs content uploaded by users. This could bring user-generated news content more directly within the ambit of regulatory scrutiny, a move likely to raise questions about platform liability and editorial responsibility.
Further, the government has proposed broadening the mandate of the Inter-Departmental Committee, a key oversight body. The committee would no longer be limited to adjudicating complaints but could also take up matters referred directly by the ministry. This shift signals a more proactive regulatory posture, allowing authorities to initiate reviews without waiting for formal grievances.
The draft builds on an already expansive framework. The existing IT Rules impose detailed due diligence requirements on intermediaries, including obligations to remove unlawful content within tight timelines, maintain grievance redressal systems, and ensure traceability in certain cases. Recent amendments have also introduced provisions addressing synthetically generated content, requiring platforms to label such material and deploy technical measures to prevent misuse.
Officials framed the latest proposals as necessary to ensure an “Open, Safe, Trusted and Accountable Internet,” while improving “legal certainty” and the enforceability of regulatory directions.
Stakeholders have been invited to submit feedback by 14 April, setting the stage for what could become another consequential evolution in India’s digital governance regime.
In the fast-moving world of online content, these tweaks suggest the government is keen to keep the guardrails firmly in place – because when the internet grows wilder, even regulators feel the need to hit refresh on the rulebook.
