New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued notices to news agencies and newspapers that seek to classify them according to their content. The notice was also sent to the Central government.
It was issued on a public interest litigation that wanted a regulatory body for classification aimed at identifying publications that contain adult material, which might not be suitable for children.
One article published in a national daily a few days ago talks about obscene messages hidden in the latest Harry Potter novel, a best-selling book among children. On other days, adult photographs feature prominently in newspapers.
In fact, matters have gone so far that teenagers have begun to share objectionable SMS jokes picked up from publications. Worried, the Goswamis, both lawyers with a teenage daughter, have decided to fight back.
They have filed a case in the Supreme Court asking for regulation of newspaper content which adversely affects children and to clarify who decides what's fit for children.
"We are not challenging freedom of speech and expression, but the children are exposed to all sorts of things in newspapers. There has to be some regulation," said Ajay Goswami, petitioner.
In response, the Court has issued notices to major national dailies, news agencies and the Press Council of India to respond within four weeks.
While there has been continuous debate over content in the electronic media, newspapers which do have guidelines, are increasingly overlooking them.
Child rights activists say, since newspapers have a phenomenal reach, it's time to question what is fit to print. Children and teenagers are drawn to the attractively packaged pictures and information for which they are still not ready.
"It's a valid question, what is public interest. Children believe what they see, and for newspapers it's all about marketing," said Razia Ismail, Alliance for Child Rights.
The petition demands that parents should be able to exercise control over what their children can see and read in newspapers. But in a medium like newspapers where there can be no certification as in films, the crucial question is how will the court regulate and classify content suitable for children.
