NEW DELHI: Show cause notices have been issued to two community radio stations for broadcasting programmes in violation of Point (iii) of AIR Code and Clauses 7.6 and 11.2 of Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) that is, the licensing conditions.

The notices were issued on 10 February 2016, according to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore, after “it came to the notice of the ministry that two community radio stations had broadcast programmes, the content of which was prime facie, found to be violative of the licensing conditions.”

Answering a question in Parliament, the minister said there was no inter-ministerial committee (IMC) for community radio on the lines of the one for television channels.

He did not disclose the names of the stations.

Permission to set up Community Radio Station (CRS) is granted in accordance with Policy Guidelines for setting up of CRS in India. Community Radio permission holders are required to comply with terms and conditions of policy guidelines for setting up CRS in India and GOPA signed between the ministry and permission holders.

Policy guidelines as well as GOPA require that the permission holder adhere to the provisions of the Programme and Advertising Code as prescribed for All India Radio.