Madras HC issues notice to 50 TV channels

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday issued notice to over 50 TV channels, including Doordarshan, on a plea to implead them in proceedings in a petition.

The petition sought a direction to the Centre to set up a separate statutory regulatory body to monitor and regulate their programmes.

The petitioner claimed that censorship of TV channels had become an absolute necessity as many programmes motivated thought and action, assuring a high degree of attention and retention as compared to the print media.

"The consequence of television violence is usually unrealistic. Very few television programmes actually focus and emphasise on anti-violence themes," the petitioner Vasan said.