Central Government has been directed by the Delhi High Court to respond to a petition seeking direction to prevent TV channels from telecasting programmes of self-styled godman Nirmaljit Singh Narula alias Nirmal Baba as they were allegedly promoting superstition.
Issuing notice to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Justice Viping Sanghi sought the government’s response by July 17 on the plea of Dhiraj Kumar Bhardwaj, Editor of a website Mediadarbar.com, alleging that the TV channels are encouraging superstition by telecasting Baba’s programme.
Filing the petition through counsel Pushpendu Shukla, the petitioner said channels repeatedly give advertisements about the programme after TAM Media Research Pvt Ltd claimed in its rating chart in January that Baba’s programme” Third Eye of Nirmal Baba on TV channels get highest TRP than all other programmes.
The court also issued notices to TAM Media Research Pvt Ltd and News Broadcasting Standard Authority and sought their replies by next date of hearing the matter. “Pass an order thereby imposing the heavy penalty upon the respondent 3 (TMRP) for intentionally including the advertisement film ‘Third Eye of Nirmal Baba’ while preparing the TRP rating chart,” the petitioner said.
The petitioner stated that his family members are also victim of such superstition and ureged the court to direct the I and B ministry to stop the advertisements of the TVchannels and telecast of such programmes. Justice Sanghi fixed July 17 for further hearing of the matter.