How to Register Compaint Against TV programs and Indian News Channels

We are living in a media age. Where we are filled with news and information every time, some are hot news or breaking news, some are local news, some are sports, some crime and war and that list goes on and on.

At the same time it has become common lots of information and news are fabricated or simply wrong which the public very well know. But now you can raise a complaint against such fraud News. You can file a complaint to the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), who will check about any such issue and if found wrong/guilty appropriate action will be taken.

Who can make a complaint?

Any person aggrieved can make a complaint to the Authority in regard to a programme broadcast by a Member / Associate Member of the NBA.

How to make a complaint?

A complaint must be made in writing, either in English or Hindi, and must include the following:

1. Copy of the complaint letter sent to the broadcaster;
2. Copy of reply received from the concerned broadcaster ;
3. Name and address of the broadcaster.
4. Specify the news item, programme
5. Date, time and channel of broadcast.
6. Short summary of what the complainant is aggrieved of, in particular what precept of the Code has been breached
7. All relevant documentary or other material, if any, in support of the complaint.

It is important to include all the above details. To assist complainants, a ‘Complaint Form’ is available on the website at **** nbanewdelhi. com or it can be obtained from the NBA office.


Which broadcasters are within the scope of the Authority?

Broadcasters that are Members and Associate Members of the NBA are within the scope of the redressal mechanism.

What can I complain about?

You may complain of any breach of the Code, including the following Principles of Self Regulation contained in the Code:

1. Impartiality and objectivity in reporting
2. Ensuring neutrality
3. Reporting on crime and safeguards to ensure crime and violence are not glorified
4. Depiction of violence or intimidation against women and children
5. Sex and nudity
6. Privacy
7. Endangering national security
8. Refraining from advocating or encouraging superstition and occultism
9. Sting operations

How quickly should a complaint be made?

A complaint must be made to the Broadcaster within a reasonable time not exceeding 7 (seven) days from the date of the first broadcast.


To whom should the first complaint be made?

A complaint should be addressed to and dealt with by the Legal Head of the concerned Broadcaster, whose specific designation, address and other correspondence details is available on the websites of the NBA and of the concerned Broadcaster.

Is there a time limit to receive a response from a Broadcaster ?

is encumbent upon the complainant to give the Broadcaster at least 7 (seven) days to respond to the complaint from the date of receipt, failing which the Authority will not entertain any complaint.

Is there a time limit to file a complaint before the Authority?

A complaint shall be filed before the Authority within 14 (fourteen) days from the date of receipt of a response from the Broadcaster, or, if the Broadcaster does not respond, within 14 (fourteen) days from the date when the aforesaid period provided for the Broadcaster to respond expires.

Can delay in filing a complaint to the Authority be condoned?

The Authority if it is satisfied that the complainant has acted deligently and that the delay in filing the complaint within the prescribed period has been caused for reasons not of the complainant’s making and/or for other sufficient cause, condone the delay and entertain a complaint.

In which language can the complaint be made?

The complaint can be made in English or Hindi. If the supporting documents are in the vernacular, true translations thereof in English or Hindi must be filed along with the complaint.

What will happen to your complaint?

Not later than 14 (fourteen) days from the date of receipt of a complaint complete in all respects, the Authority will issue notice to the concerned broadcaster to show cause why action should not be taken under the Regulations.

In how many days should a response be received from a broadcaster to a show cause notice?

A period of 14 (fourteen) days is given to a broadcaster to respond to the show cause notice. In appropriate cases the Chairperson shall have the discretion to extend time for such response If however there is no sufficient ground for holding an inquiry, the Chairperson may decide not to issue show cause notice to the broadcaster, and in such case(s), the Chairperson will apprise the Authority in the next meeting why a decision was taken not to issue the show cause notice and the Authority may then pass such orders as it deems fit upon the complaint.

The notice indicating the time, date & place of hearing will be issued to the complainant as well as the concerned Broadcaster along with the complete copy of the complaint and all documents relied upon by the complainant, by any mode of recorded delivery at the address furnished in the complaint.

How does a broadcaster respond to a complaint ?

The Broadcaster against which the complaint is made may, within 14 (fourteen) days from the date of service of the notice along with a complete copy of the complaint and all documents relied upon by the complainant or within such further time as may be granted by the Chairperson upon application in this behalf, submit a written statement to the Authority in reply to the complaint and send a copy of such written statement to the complainant by any mode of recorded delivery.

On receipt of the complaint or written statement, the Chairperson and/or Authority may, if considered necessary, call for any documents or other material from either the respondent Broadcaster or the complainant.

Powers of the Authority

Authority can, warn, admonish, censure, express disapproval against and/or impose a fine upon the broadcaster and/or recommend to the concerned authority for suspension / revocation of license of such broadcaster.

The Authority may, in public interest, also direct any broadcaster to cause to be published any information relating to an inquiry, including the warning, admonition, censure, disapproval issued and/or fine imposed and any other particulars relating to the proceedings, through a press release in such newspaper or other periodical and/or such website, as the Authority thinks fit.

What happens if a matter is sub judice ?

If a matter is sub judice or becomes sub judice during the pendency of proceedings before the Authority, the Authority will not deal with or continue with the proceedings.

Will complaints made be kept confidential?

All complaints decided by the Authority may be made publicly available by the Authority, including the name of the complainant. However, in the event a complainant has valid concerns relating to privacy issues in making a complaint, the Authority may in its absolute discretion, consider requests from the complainant for anonymity / confidentiality.



Communications & contact address

All Communications of the Authority must be addressed to :

News Broadcasting Standards Authority
C/o News Broadcasters Association
Reg. Off.: 101-103, Paramount Tower
C-17, Community Center, Janakpuri,
New Delhi - 110 058.
Email: authority@nbanewdelhi.com
Download Complaint Form : Welcome to News Broadcasters Association, New Delhi

 

Thats a great article but do you think it is worth? Where do all teh compaints disappear? There is no use of lodging compaint against these tv programs as they are not going to change the scenes which should not be telecasted. its all corruption that prevails in the indian media and news channels. children of all age watches tv and serials but these production and tv channels owner hardly bother about them. they will show what they want to. You can sure lodge the complaint but that would not come in to existence and the changes will not be done.

 

I’ve registered many complaints on their misleading programs.
These media channels are just commercials materials, they work like corporate companies. Their ethics have lost in grave when competitions are started between channels
Better we need to complaint to one channel about his opposition channel.

 

@leadindia

You will get no benefit in registering a complaint against these TV channels that telecast obscene scenes and programs such as MTV splitsvilla and MTV roadies or Dating based serials on channel V . You can also see serials like Emotional atyachar which is a live example of obscenity and irrational behavior of humans. What do you think if you lodge complaint against these channels they will stop the telecast of these serials? Never! because they get most of the TRP's from these serials only.

 

This is really a very good information and not many of us know about it, but since not much is being done on issues on which complaints are being lodged what can be done? i think these channels make huge money and sneak out from being punished by bribing the officials. we should urge censor board authorities to be more strict because media affects the way of living of many people in reality.