The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Monday issued an advisory to all television channels against reporting incidents that are “distasteful, heart wrenching, distressful, indignifying, sensational thereby offending good taste and decency”.

The Ministry said that it had noticed several instances by television channels which grossly compromises on “good taste and decency” such as showing dead bodies, images/videos of injured persons, people and children being beaten mercilessly without blurring which is “ghastly”.

In view of larger public interest involved and having regard to the nature of audience of television channels including elderly, women and children, “Such telecast by the television channels is a matter of grave concern” and “quite unpalatable to the eyes and ears of a common viewer”, it stated.

The advisory has highlighted the adverse psychological impact that such reporting can have on children.

It also stated that such reporting invades and violates the privacy of the victims “which could be potentially maligning and defamatory”.

Furthermore, the Ministry has said that TV channels are playing videos taken from social media and broadcasting those videos without editorial discretion and modifications to ensure compliance and consistency with the Programme Code and the Advertising Code.

Among the “list exemplifying such incidents”, the Ministry of I&B mentioned the videos and images of the car accident involving Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant.

A video showing a disturbing incident of a man mercilessly brutally beating two minor boys with a stick in Chirang district of Assam has also been cited as an example that raises concern.

The Ministry has strongly advised all private television channels to attune their systems and practices of reporting incidents of crime, accidents and violence, including death in conformity with the Programme Code.