Delhi HC seeks suggestions to regulate sting operations

Rohit Mathur - Televisionpoint.com | New Delhi
The Delhi high court on Monday sought suggestions from a court-appointed counsel for laying down the guidelines for regulating sting operations by TV channels and expressed displeasure over non-reinstatement of a school teacher, sacked after the telecast of a fake sting operation.

The court which was hearing the case of the fake sting operation involving the school teacher, asked senior advocate Amarjit Singh Chandioke, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the matter, to place before it suggestions which could help curb such activities.

The direction by the bench comprising Chief Justice M K Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Khanna after Chandioke submitted "this court should formulate regulations to curb illegal activities such as fake sting operations, carried by the media, as the proposed broadcasting bill is yet to be tabled in Parliament".

He said the regulations may help in curbing the illegal activities of the media till the bill is passed. The bench expressed its displeasure over non-reinstatement of Uma Khurana, who was sacked following the telecast of the fake sting operation by Live India showing her role in a prostitution racket. "When the status report, filed by the police, gives her the clean chit, then what is stopping you (department of education) from re-inducting her," the bench said reserving its verdict on the issue.