I&B Min to support broadcasters' demand on security clearance

The Information and Broadcasting  Ministry is planning to support a demand of broadcasters that government reconsider its decision to grant security clearance of only three years to news channels instead of the entire duration of their licence.

A highly-placed source told PTI that the ministry may soon write to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) suggesting that the security clearance given to broadcasting companies should be held valid for the entire duration of their licence.

"We are planning to send our opinion to the Home Ministry that the duration of the security clearance given to a company should be made co-terminus with the licence," the source said.

Currently, the duration of licence given to broadcasters is 10 years. However, a clearance from the MHA is mandatory before a company gets a broadcasting licence.

The issue arose after the I&B Ministry wrote a letter to the MHA asking if the security clearance that was given to companies, which applied for the licence to run a TV channel, came with an expiry date.

The MHA replied that the clearance was valid for three years after which the Board of Directors of the company would be assessed again.

The broadcasting industry had been upset by the move to fix a three-year tag to the security clearance. The I&B Ministry also received a representation from the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) last month seeking a reconsideration of the decision.

On a related matter, officials said the I&B Ministry agreed with a suggestion made by the MHA on whether to grant fresh security clearance if a company which has been given clearance applies for a new channel.

The home ministry had made it clear that if existing companies apply for licence for a new channel, they would have to go for a fresh security clearance.