A Parliamentary panel may discuss the much-talked-about Leveson report on British media and its relevance in the Indian context.

Leveson Inquiry was a judicial inquiry commissioned by the UK government into the culture, practices and ethics of the British Press, following the phone hacking scandal that shook the country in 2011.

The Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Information and Broadcasting, which is expected to meet on Monday, is likely to discuss the report’s recommendations and whether it has implications for the Indian media space. This discussion comes soon after the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology submitted a report highlighting the issues surrounding paid media coverage in May.

Meanwhile, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is also in the process of consultations on issues regarding regulation of media cross-holding. The regulator could come out with its recommendations by August.

The Parliamentary panel in its report had asked the telecom and broadcasting regulator TRAI and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to consider the matter of paid news as well as cross-holdings in the media on a priority basis.

It had also urged prompt action to prevent monopolistic trends in the media. It has suggested either formation of a statutory body independent of media owners that looks into complaints against media content or revamping the role of the Press Council of India.

According to international reports, the Leveson report had made recommendations for setting up a fresh independent self-regulatory body, independent of serving editor, government or businesses which should be supported by a legislation.

>meenakshi.v@thehindu.co.in

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