MUMBAI: Upcoming Jagannath temple community radio (CR) station must prove its secular credentials before its gets license from the Ministry of Information  and Broadcasting (MIB). Religious content integrated into the programming of a CR station in India will reduce the chances of receiving a CR license from MIB or can also result annulling license of a stations who has programming based on religious content.

“According to the community policies, airing content that is religious will hold less chances to get approval from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. But having said that they can still air content on the lines of the Supreme Court ruling 'Hinduism is a way of life' making things reasonable different. In case, the Community radio station challenges Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in court, matter would be different,” Community Radio Association vice-president NA Shah Ansari has said to Radioandmusic.com (RnM).

Recently, Jagannath Temple administration head had confirmed that they plan to set-up CR station to disseminate information on Lord Jagannath.

RnM tried contacting temple’s chief administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee to make them aware about the policy but he was not available to comment.

The Jagannath Temple managing committee include names like Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Naba Kumar Nayak, Anup Kumar Sahoo, Durga Shankar Mishra and Premraj Bohidar are few members who are in some way related to government or law-making authorities.

According to the CR policies (viii), the Permission Holder shall ensure that due care is taken with respect to religious programmes with a view to avoid: (a) Exploitation of religious susceptibilities; and (b) Committing offence to the religious views and beliefs of those belonging to a particular religion or religious denomination.

Industry expert Dr R Sreedher however said that till the time the stations don't preach and convert people. There is no trouble having such stations. It should not create superstition among the community as well.

"The trust have not even applied for license before they made this announcement. They will be rejected at the first instance as they have to go through the various hurdles and screening committee who will not accept this. There is lot of noise about the Jagannath Temple's plan of community station in spite the fact there are many institutions like Holy Cross College in Tiruchirapalli which is run by Christian community and another CR that is run in the premises of mosque," Dr R Sreedher pointed out.

He further said, "In Kerala, there is a community radio station at Wynad that had to prove it was secular. Once you prove that you’re secular, permission is granted. The main catch here is that every community radio station can air 50 per cent content what they like to air and 50 per cent should be for society’s welfare."

Ansari further adds, “The (Jagannath) temple’s trust is part of the government, making it come under government administration.”