Ayodhya: The Ayodhya district administration has told news channels that litigants in the Ayodhya land dispute case should not be part of any discussions that they broadcast from here during the 'Bhumi Pujan' for the Ram temple on August 5.
In an advisory, it also said that if channels are broadcasting a debate or programme from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh during the groundbreaking ceremony, there should be no comments against any person or religion.
News channels have to take prior permission to hold any programme and also submit an undertaking to authorities, according to the advisory.
"We have issued an advisory to news channels as they have to take prior permission from the magistrate for holding programmes, they will be allowed limited numbers of panellists and no public or viewers will be allowed to attend the broadcast or recording," Deputy Director, Information, Murli Dhar Singh told.
He said that a magistrate and police will be deployed at the programme, and panellists and news channel staff have to strictly follow COVID-19 protocols.
"News channels have to ensure that no comments are made against any religion or person, and no parties from the Ayodhya dispute case are invited," Singh said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend the August 5 event.
The decades-old Ram Janmabhooomi- Babri Masjid title dispute case was settled by the Supreme Court last year on November 9.
In its verdict, the court said that the entire 2.77 acres of the disputed land in Ayodhya should be handed over to the deity Ram Lalla, who was one of the three litigants.
It also directed the Centre to allot an alternative 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a new mosque at a "prominent" place in the holy town in Uttar Pradesh.