The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA), on a complaint from activist Shehla Rashid against Zee News with respect to a programme broadcast in November 2020, has directed the broadcaster to remove the video from its website, YouTube and all other links.
The NBDSA has held that the broadcaster violated the principles of self-regulation related to impartiality and objectivity in reporting and ensuring neutrality enshrined in the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards, as regards the impugned broadcast.
The complainant had alleged that her biological father made wild allegations against her, her sister and her mother in the programme, and imputed that she had been involved in funding terror. The complainant stated that the allegations were made with the intention of not only defaming her, her sister and mother, but also bringing danger to her life and liberty.
She alleged that the broadcaster had failed to reach out to her for a response. It did not adequately portray what was by then already in the public domain: that she had stated on her social media accounts that not only was the interviewee an accused in a First Information Report but was also facing domestic violence charges initiated by her, her mother and sister, the NBDSA noted.
In its response, the broadcaster, stated that various false, frivolous, unsubstantiated and motivated allegations had been made in the complaint. It had fairly and objectively reported the serious allegations levelled by her father. The programme did not violate any guidelines, it had fairly and objectively reported the complainant’s version as well.
The NBDSA noted that the channel had presented only one side of the story. “Further, not only had the broadcaster failed to approach the complainant for her version prior to telecasting the impugned programme, but by making only a fleeting reference to her denial of the allegations, the broadcaster had also failed to adequately present her version,” it said.
