The Centre and the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal Government seem headed for yet another round of showdown. This time it is likely to be over the chit fund scam-tainted company Saradha Group’s TV channels — Tara News and Tara Muzik.
According to sources, the Bengal Government is contemplating to bring an Ordinance to take over these channels to “honour” the public announcement made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The Trinamool dispensations Ordinance plans follow the Information and Broadcasting Ministry’s clarification earlier that no State Government can own or takeover any private TV channel as per the present law.
But the Centre is unlikely to approve the move, sources in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry told The Pioneer.
The broadcasting sector falls in the Union list and the State Government cannot legislate on the issue. Still, if the West Bengal Government goes for an Ordinance, it would need the Presidential assent which will require the matter to be referred to the Union Home Ministry. The MHA will then consult the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which is not in any mood to oblige the State Government.
The Ministry had earlier issued show cause notice seeking clarifications about the ownership and share transfer of these channels owned by jailed Saradha group owner Sudipto Sen. Though the two channels were given 15 days’ time to respond, the Ministry has not yet received any reply.
In case there is no reply or an unsatisfactory response to the notice, the Ministry can even take harsh action and revoke the licence of these two channels, sources said.
Earlier, after Mamata’s announcement that since 168 employees of the two channels have made an appeal her Government has decided to take over them, the Ministry had questioned as to how the West Bengal Government envisaged to do it and under which rule. Neither law nor Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s recommendations permit any State Government to own a channel directly or through any entity or PSUs.
The Centre and the Mamata Government have been at loggerheads over economic reform measures like FDI in multi-brand retail and Pension Bill besides the Presidential candidate.