A parliamentry committee has called for “statutory regulations” for both print and electronic media, following the widely condemned live news coverage of Operation Black Tornado during the Mumbai terror attack. It also criticised the display of dead bodies, sting operations and the phenomenon of ‘trial by media’. The panel said that the regulations should be based on the “model of the Press Council of India” but “vested with more powers”.

The committee on petitions, headed by senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu, presented its report before the Rajya Sabha on Friday regarding the “misuse of right to freedom of speech and expression by print and electronic media and the need to restrict it under Article 19(2) of the Constitution”.

The Parliamentary committee’s report took note of how the live telecast of operation Black Tornado compromised the safety of people. “It included live feed of air dropping of NSG commandos on the rooftop of Nariman House which had taken away the element of surprise and was critical and crucial in operation Black Tornado. The Committee apprehends that the live footage shown by TV channels to the viewers, could also have been used as free intelligence input by the perpetrators sitting far away from the place of incident who allegedly guided the attackers,” the report reads.

Although it acknowledges that the live coverage was “partially restricted” later because of “some good sense prevailing with suitable advisories”, it also points out that self-regulation is not enough, especially given the fierce competition for ratings. The committee report has said that it expects the media to treat sensitive information “carefully” and endeavor to “ensure that the interest of nation is not jeopardised by live telecasting such nature of operations”.

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