Viewers and Complaints Guide
- Who can make a complaint?
- Any person or a group of persons, may, either individually or jointly, file a complaint against any programme broadcast on any of the IBDF member TV Channels.
- What can I complain about?
- You may complain of any breach of the Self Regulatory Content Guidelines for Non News & Current Affairs TV Channels including the following Principles of Self Regulations:
- National Interest
- Racial and Religious Harmony
- Children and Generally Accessible Programmes
- Social Values
- Sex and Nudity
- Violence and Crime
- Horror and the Occult
- Drugs, Smoking, Tobacco, Solvents & Alcohol
- Libel, Slander & Defamation
- Harm and Offense
- How to make a complaint?
- A complaint must be made to the Standard and Practices (S&P) Department of the concerned TV Channel in clear handwriting or typed either in English or in Hindi along with all relevant particulars including the name of the Television Channel, the date and time of telecast of the offending content, the title of the programme, details about the alleged offence, etc. and also give reasons, as to why s/he feels that the particular programme was not in compliance with the Content Guidelines.
The complainant must also furnish details about his/her name, age, complete address along with the fax number, email id, telephone number etc. in his/her complaint.
If the complainant is not satisfied with the reply received from the Head of S&P Department of the TV Channel, complainant can make a complaint to the BCCC within two weeks of receipt of reply from the Channel or within three weeks of filing of the complaint to the Channel and write to the Secretary General, BCCC C/o. Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation, C-301, 3rd Floor, Ansal Plaza, Khelgaon Marg, New Delhi.
Click here to download the complaint form or it can be obtained from the IBDF office.
- Is there a time limit to file a complaint to the TV Channel?
- A complaint should be made as soon as possible and not later than a week of the telecast of the offending programme to the Head, Standard & Practices (S&P) Department of the concerned Broadcaster/Television Channel.
- Is there a time limit to receive a response from the TV Channel?
- If the Head of the S&P Department considers that there has been a violation of the Content Guidelines, she/he shall reply to the complainant within one week of the channel's receipt of the complaint. An acknowledgement to the complaint shall also be sent to the complainant within two days by the S & P Department after the receipt of the complaint.
- Is there any time limit to file a appeal before the BCCC ?
- Appeal can be filed before the BCCC against any offending programme broadcast on any of the IBF member TV Channels within 14 (fourteen) days from the date of the first broadcast.
- Can I file a appeal directly before the BCCC ?
- Any person or a group of persons, may, either individually or jointly, file an appeal directly to BCCC against any programme broadcast on any of the TV Channels within 14 (fourteen) days from the date of the first broadcast.
A complaint must be made in writing, either in English or Hindi, and must include the following:
- Name, age, complete address of the complaint
- Name of the TV Channel and specify the programme
- Date and time of broadcast
- Short summary of the subject matter of the complaint
- In case the complaint is sent by e-mail, a hard copy of the complete complaint with enclosures may also be sent by post to Secretary, BCCC.
- In which language can the complaint be made?
- The complaint can be made in English or Hindi. If the supporting documents, if any, are in any other language, the same should be translated in English or in Hindi.
- Does the mechanism cover films and movie videos?
- The complaint redressal mechanism does not cover films, movie videos & film trailers as these programmes are currently being pre-certified by Central Board of Film Certification.
- Does the mechanism cover advertisements being broadcast on the TV channels?
- The mechanism does not cover advertisements. All advertisement related complaints should be addressed to The Advertising Standards Council of India.
- What will happen to your complaint placed before BCCC?
- Upon receipt of complaints, the same will be put up for orders of Chairperson within three working days from the receipt of complaint(s). If the complaint, prima facie, appears vexatious, frivolous or motivated or appears baseless, the Chairperson shall initiate no action but will direct BCCC Secretariat to put up the same at the next meeting of BCCC to decide whether the complaint should be processed or not.
- If the complaint is substantiated, the respective channel will be asked to provide their views on the offending content within one working week of receipt of letter from BCCC. On the request from BCCC, the Electronic Monitoring Media Center (EMMC), Ministry of I & B shall provide the tape/CD on the offending content within two working days.
- If BCCC is not satisfied with the response of the concerned Channel and consider that the channel has violated the Guidelines, BCCC shall direct the concerned Channel to modify or withdraw such content as desirable within a week from the date of receipt of direction from BCCC.
- In the event of a channel found to have been/being telecasted any objectionable unauthorized content, messages, or communication inconsistently with public interest or national security or its continued telecast may create a serious law and order problem or incite violence, BCCC may, upon due consideration, pass an interim order directing immediate withholding of the offending telecast by the Channel and direct the Channel to send its justification within twenty four hours to enable issue of final order by the BCCC in the matter. If the Channel defies the order of the BCCC, the matter may be referred to I & B Ministry within 24 hours.
- Once the BCCC has made a decision on the complaint, both the complainant and the party complained against will be informed of the BCCC decision and the same will also be put on the website.
- What is the timeline for disposal of a complaint by BCCC?
- The BCCC shall pass final orders within three weeks of the receipt of complaint. In case the BCCC is not able to dispose of a complaint within the stipulated period, the Chairman, BCCC would intimate I & B Ministry giving justification for non-disposal. Thereafter, the Ministry may take a view in the matter.
- How is a complaint decided by the BCCC?
- All decisions of the BCCC shall be by simple majority of the Members present and shall be in writing and may specify the action to be taken by the concerned Television Channel in respect of the television programmes complained against.
- What happens if the directions of the BCCC are not followed by the TV Channels?
- In case of non-adherence of the directions of BCCC by the TV Channel, it may initiate any one or a combination of the following actions: -
- Issue a warning to implement the direction within next forty-eight hours.
- Air an apology in such manner as may be decided.
- Issue a Directive to the IBDF not to consider the outstandings of that Channel for processing till the matter is resolved.
- Issue a Directive to the IBDF to take necessary action to expel the concerned member.
- In exceptional cases of a Television Channel not carrying out the directions of the BCCC, the BCCC may recommend to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for appropriate action against the Channel, as per the law.
- Any Directive issued by the BCCC to the IBF shall be binding and must be implemented with immediate effect.
- Which broadcasters are within the scope of the BCCC?
- Broadcasters that are Members of the IBDF are within the scope of the redressal mechanism. However, any complaints received against non-IBDF members, the same will be forwarded to the I & B Ministry for appropriate action.
