NEW DELHI, JULY 14: The proposed Broadcast Bill for regulating the media industry may not be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament due to a consultative process initiated by the ministry of information and broadcasting.
Speaking to FE, I&B minister Priyaranjan Das Munshi said the government was trying to involve all sections of the media before tabling the Bill. “We will try our best to introduce it in the monsoon session, but not before we involve all sections of the media,” he said.
Industry sources, however, said the consultative process would take more than a months’ time. “By the time, I&B hears out all sections of the media and responds, the monsoon session will be over,” a source from broadcasting industry said. The monsoon session of Parliament will be held between July 24 and August 19.
The draft Bill proposes to impose cross-media restrictions on media companies and restrictions on market-share. This is being opposed by Indian Broadcasting Foundation and the Indian Media Group.
