NEW DELHI
The government on Sunday dismissed reports suggesting that Hindi news channels received “notices” for excessive use of Urdu in their broadcasts, calling such claims misleading. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check Unit clarified that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had merely forwarded a viewer’s complaint to the channels concerned under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act.
According to officials, the Act mandates that a certain percentage of public grievances be forwarded to the parties against whom complaints are lodged. “This is not a directive from the Ministry, but simply the forwarding of a complaint received against the channels,” a senior official said.
Under the regulations, the channels are required to respond to the complainant, detailing any action taken, while keeping the Ministry informed. The PIB clarified that claims in a section of the media alleging that MIB had issued formal notices or directed channels to appoint language experts were inaccurate.
Urdu, regarded as a significant marker of India’s composite cultural heritage, has recently been highlighted in debates over language use in media and education. Reports claiming regulatory action on language grounds have sparked concerns among media professionals and language scholars.
The government’s clarification underscores that no punitive action has been taken against Hindi news channels, and the forwarding of complaints is a routine procedural measure under existing regulations. Officials emphasized that this move aims to maintain transparency in grievance redressal, rather than impose language restrictions on broadcasters. The PIB’s statement comes amid ongoing discussions on linguistic diversity and cultural representation in Indian media, reaffirming that media channels retain editorial autonomy within legal frameworks.
