In a bid to boost investors’ confidence, the government on Thursday notified amendments to the Cable Television Networks Rules that provide the operational mechanism for implementation of the decriminalised provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act. 

Section 16 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, dealt with the punishment for contraventions under any of its provisions. This section had provision for imprisonment, which might extend up to two years in case of the first instance and five years for every subsequent offence. 

The imprisonment provisions have been now replaced with a monetary penalty and other non-monetary measures like advisory, warning and censure, an official statement said. 

These measures will be enforced through the designated officer defined in the rules notified on Thursday. Moreover, Section 16 now introduces an appeal mechanism against the order made by the designated officer. 

The punishments specified under Section 16 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 were decriminalised through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provision) Act, 2023, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said. 

The amendments are expected to encourage compliance with the Act without resorting to harsh punishments and sensitivity to minor or unintended contraventions, the statement said.