NEW DELHI: The Union government has issued an advisory for FM radio channels against airing songs and content that glorify alcohol, drugs, weaponry, gun culture and gangster culture.
It also warned that they could face strict action, which includes suspension of permission and prohibition of broadcast, for violation of the Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) and Migration Grant of Permission Agreement (MGOPA).
The advisory by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting advisory was issued on Wednesday.
It has come after the High Court of Punjab and Haryana took note that “such content affects the children of impressionable age” and is giving rise to the culture of gangsters.
The Punjab government had also banned the public displays of weapons and songs glorifying violence, after having noted airing of a number of Punjabi pop songs that glorify guns and other weapons as well as the use of drugs.
The Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) and Migration Grant of Permission Agreement (MGOPA) of FM channels mandated that the FM radios will follow the same programme and advertising codes followed by the All India Radio (AIR).
Since the broadcast of such songs or content is in violation of the AIR Programme Code, the advisory said, FM channels violating these provisions are liable to an action.
The government has the right to impose sanctions for suspension of the permission and prohibition of broadcast, in case of violation of GOPA and MGOPA, the advisory said.
Read Advisory
