IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CWP NO.14012 OF 2007

Date of Decision: August 13, 2008

H.C.Arora

Versus

Union of India and others

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Coram:

Hon’ble Mr.Justice T.S.Thakur, Chief Justice and

Hon’ble Mr.Justice Surya Kant.

Present:

Shri H.C.Arora, Petitioner in person

Shri Sarabjit Singh, Central Government Standing Counsel

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T.S.Thakur, CJ (Oral)

This petition has been filed in the Public Interest. It prays for a

Mandamus directing respondents No.1 and 2 to evolve an appropriate Code of

Conduct/ “Contents Code”, or some other self-regulatory mechanism for private

television/news channels for preventing glorification of crime, violence and vice,

which dominate these channels as excessive telecast of such stories on these

channels is bound to encourage anti-social activities and exert a harmful

influence on persons of impressionable age.

In the reply filed on behalf of the respondents-Union of India, it is

inter alia stated that a committee has been constituted for reviewing programme

and advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act,

1995 and the rules framed thereunder and the guidelines for certification of

filmes