The Delhi High Court on September 17 expressed hope that the media will exercise restraint as the bench asked the Centre, National Broadcasters Association among others to respond to a petition filed by Bollywood actor Rakul Preet Singh.
Rakul Preet had highlighted media reports against her after Sushant Singh Rajput's death case accused Rhea Chakraborty named the former in a drug-related case before the NCB.
While passing these directions, the single judge bench said: "There has to be some restraint. Media gets to know info even before the officers themselves. Reputations are getting tarnished."
Now, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Friday asked all private satellite television channels to adhere to the Programme Code and emphasised that no programme should criticise, malign or slander any individual or certain groups.
Also Read: "If you watch Big Boss then you don't want justice for Sushant": Sofiya Hayat
The I&B Ministry took to Twitter and wrote, "Ministry of I&B issues advisory to all private satellite TV channels regarding adherence to Programme Code under the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995."
As per the Code, no programme should criticise, malign or slander any individual in person or certain groups, segments of the social, public and moral life of the country, the ministry said.
All private satellite TV channels are requested to ensure compliance with the directions above, it said.