The Centre has warned cable television operators in the newly-formed union territory of Jammu & Kashmir from broadcasting any content from private TV channels based in Muslim nations like Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia.

As per an advisory issued by the Union Ministry for Information & Broadcasting, an exclusive copy of which is available with India Today TV, cable TV operators have been reminded of their obligations under the Cable TV Rules.

The note reads, It has come to the notice of this Ministry that some private channels which are not permitted by this Ministry are being transmitted by some cable operators on their networks. This is a clear violation of the sub-rules 6(6) under Cable TV Rules under Programme code and needs to be acted upon immediately.

The advisory, which is signed by Vikram Sahay, joint secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, has warned cable TV operators that if they violate the rules they could face punitive action including withdrawal of license/permission and confiscation of equipment. Sahay, in fact, was in Srinagar recently to meet with cable TV operators.

Cable TV operators had suffered reverses in business after the clampdown on television services, among others, in wake of the August 5 abrogation of Article 370 in the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. The lockdown on broadcasting was subsequently lifted on August 20.



