The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority says parts of Sudhir Chaudhary’s programme failed to meet standards of impartiality
NEW DELHI — The country’s news broadcasting regulator has directed television channel Aaj Tak to make changes to parts of a programme presented by journalist Sudhir Chaudhary that discussed claims that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple.
The order was issued by the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA), which found that portions of the programme did not meet the standards of impartiality and neutrality required under its code of ethics.
According to reports, the decision relates to an episode of the programme Black & White aired on 29 November 2024. The episode discussed claims about the destruction of Hindu temples during the rule of Muslim kings and also referred to the long-disputed theory that the Taj Mahal had originally been a Hindu temple.
In an order issued on Thursday, NBDSA Chairperson Justice AK Sikri observed that the broadcaster had relied on reports of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) while discussing claims concerning Delhi’s Qutub Minar. However, when addressing claims about the Taj Mahal, the programme did not refer to similar official records and findings.
The authority stated that this omission raised concerns about whether viewers had been presented with a balanced picture of the historical debate.
“While the broadcaster relied upon the Archaeological Survey of India’s reports in relation to claims concerning Qutub Minar, similar official records were not referred to while discussing the Taj Mahal,” the order noted.
The latest ruling came after a review petition challenged an earlier NBDSA decision issued in December. In that earlier decision, the authority had concluded that the programme did not violate the broadcasting code.
The petitioner argued that the 29 November broadcast promoted a one-sided narrative regarding the destruction of Hindu temples by Muslim rulers. The complaint also maintained that the programme strengthened claims that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple despite the Archaeological Survey of India having rejected such assertions.
The petitioner further argued that viewers were not adequately informed about the ASI’s position on the matter and that important historical and legal context was absent from the discussion.
TV Today Network Limited, which owns Aaj Tak, defended the broadcast during the proceedings. The company described the programme as a documentary-style presentation that compiled claims and arguments from books, reports and other published sources.
In its earlier order dated 23 December, the authority had accepted that the programme presented a historical narrative and had relied on published material, including reports of the Archaeological Survey of India, in support of some of the claims discussed.
However, after reviewing the matter, the authority distinguished between presenting historical claims and doing so in a manner that complies with accepted standards of accuracy and impartiality.
The regulator said broadcasters are free to discuss historical controversies but must do so fairly and with proper reference to relevant evidence, especially when official records are available.
The authority noted that while some sections of the programme referred to government records, similar records were not cited when discussing the Taj Mahal controversy. It concluded that this aspect of the broadcast required correction.
As a result, NBDSA directed Aaj Tak to edit or suitably modify the portions of the programme dealing with claims that the Taj Mahal was once a Hindu temple.
At the same time, the authority limited its intervention to the Taj Mahal segment. It declined to reopen other issues raised in the complaint, including allegations regarding the programme’s communal tone and claims that it failed to mention relevant legal provisions such as the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
The decision is being seen as an important reminder of the responsibility placed on television broadcasters when covering sensitive historical and religious subjects. The regulator emphasised that discussions on such matters must meet standards of fairness, accuracy and impartiality so that audiences receive a complete and balanced understanding of the issues involved.
