NANDHIVARMAN OPINES

PRESS COUNCIL OF INDIA PASSES ORDER IN COMPLAINT AGAINST CNN-IBN

[ The complaint against CNN-IBN is as follows. The Press Council of India order is in jpg format in left side of blog]

To

The Hon’ble Chairman

Press Council of India

Farid Court House

Copernicous Marg

New Delhi 110 001

In the matter of :

                   N.Nandhivarman

                  General Secretary

                  Dravida Peravai

                   39, Montorsier Street

                   Puducherry 605001

                             -vs-

                   CNN IBN ,

                   through, Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai

                   Express Press Trade Tower

Plot No. 15-16 # Film City

Sector – 16A # Noida # U.P.

Pin 201 301

                             AND

In the matter of :

                   Complaint under Press Council Act

1. I am the General Secretary of Dravida Peravai, a registered political party which had taken up numerous causes and carried out campaigns, which were highlighted in the media, hence we have great respect for the fourth estate, which remains as one of the pillars of our vibrant democracy.

2. In the past when our party fought against land mafia, all print media and electronic media carried our news except one little known group, which posted a news to slander me, and the Press Council of India, headed by Justice Sawant, at that time, admonished that daily, for that judgment redeeming my honour, we always laud the fair play of Press Council of India, in deliverance of justice.

3. For one who had immense faith in the independence of Indian free press, a shock was administered by a prestigious television channel CNN-IBN, which having decided to telecast a programme and made promotional news about it, but suddenly shelved it in eleventh hour. Though it is the prerogative of a channel to telecast or not to telecast a programme, having aired that it will be telecast and backtracking, casts serious doubts about pressures brought to kill news and this is a serious issue involving the Freedom of Press, hence this complaint.    

4. The “TV 18 Network” of CNN-IBN, on their own decided to tell the people at large about the on-going happenings of Sri Aurobindo Ashram to ensure corrective measures are carried out to uphold the dignity of ashram. Accordingly,  Mr. V.K.Sashi Kumar, Editor Investigations, Ms. Neeti Tandon, Correspondent ; Ms. Kavitta Sharma , Associate Producer and others conducted a through investigation within ashram and outside ashram ; impartially views of Trustees and other officials were taken as well as outsiders views – and faithfully materials and evidences were collected, mainly as deponent understands , the old press materials were relied upon with unbiased attitude and deliberations of some of those journalists were also inspired their confidence. Sri Aurobindo Ashram is an institution of international fame and repute – and CNN-IBN is also a global TV network, thus the authenticity of materials and documents relied upon to prepare the program were beyond any iota of doubt, then only the CNN-IBN decided to telecast.  

5. Petitioner came to know, that CNNIBN is working on this program for about six months – they were very cautious since it is associated with the name of Saint Aurobindo , and thus the whole thing seems to have been scrutinized repeatedly , at different stages and finally with the approval of Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai, Chief Editor, it was telecasted from 14^th March, 2008 onwards till 15^th March 2008 evening that this 30 minute program would be telecasted on 15.03.08 at 09.30 pm.  The promo was telecast half-hourly in CNN-IBN channel on 15.03.08. Perhaps, in program related news, it was released in news papers also that such a program would be telecasted. The program was named as “Divine trap”.  But to the surprise of all, without any announcement, that program was dropped. No reason or explanation was offered by CNN-IBN in their channel.  A  CD of the promo of “Divine trap” as telecast by CNN-IBN is made annexures “A”.

6. People have a right to know, for what reason that “Divine trap” was not telecasted. CNN-IBN has a positive obligation to inform people, why even after telecasting such a promo about “Divine trap” – it was not telecasted. News media cannot kill a story when serious charges were made in promo telecasted for nearly one and half days and to take people for granted.

7. A local Tamil investigative newspaper Makkal Manasatchi, which means People’s Conscience released the back ground story about the news of CNN-IBN releasing the promo, “Divine trap” with photographs and stopping the telecast in eleventh hour. This journal had sought the channel to explain the reasons for withdrawing the telecast without telling valid reasons to Indian public.

A copy in original, with English rendering, is made annexures “B”.

In such premises, it is humbly prayed for:

(a)      an investigation into the matter why the program was stopped just about four hours before the scheduled telecast ; 

                                      (b)      issuance of show-cause notice ;

(c)      pass necessary Order to telecast the program with prior notice , or to give reasons in public why that was not telecasted ;

Dated : 02 June, 2008

Puducherry

                                                                           (N. Nandhivarman)

 Petitioner

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor has told the BBC he will continue to push for Sudan’s leader to be charged with war crimes.

Luis Moreno Ocampo said there was strong evidence that President Omar al-Bashir was behind attacks on civilians in Darfur province.

The Sudanese government has rejected the allegations, saying the ICC’s case threatens peace efforts in Darfur.

A number of countries want the UN to block the attempt to indict Mr Bashir.