GS PAPER II: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

Context: The Central Government issued a notification amending the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994.

Key Changes:

• It will provide a statutory mechanism for redressal of grievances/complaints of citizens relating to content broadcast by television channels in accordance with the provisions of the Cable Television Network Act, 1995.
• At present, there is an institutional mechanism by way of an Inter-Ministerial Committee to address grievances of citizens relating to violation of the Programme/Advertising Codes under the Rules.
• Similarly, various broadcasters have also developed their internal self-regulatory mechanism for addressing grievances.
• However, the statutory mechanism will strengthen the grievance redressal structure.
• The Supreme Court in its order in the matter of “Common Cause Vs Union of India & Others” had advised to frame appropriate rules to formalize the complaint redressal mechanism.
• The statutory mechanism would be transparent and benefit the citizens.
• Self-regulating bodies of broadcasters would be registered with the Central Government to formalize the complaint redressal mechanism.
• It is significant move as it paves the way for a strong institutional system for redressing grievances while placing accountability and responsibility on the broadcasters and their self-regulating bodies.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727961

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