Legal: Thimphu dzongkhag court’s civil bench conducted the first hearing of the case between Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) and Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation (BBSC) on February 8.

Sources said that during the hearing, court officials read out the charges BICMA has made against BBSC, which include allegations of BBS not abiding by the directives of the authority and refusing to pay the fines and penalties it imposed following the airing of a story on the film Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait on December 21 last year.

It was learnt that BBSC intended to appeal to the media tribunal but since the case is already registered with court, court officials said that only BICMA can shift the case to the media tribunal since BICMA is the one who took BBSC to court.

BBSC was given a week’s time to respond to the charges of BICMA.

Kuensel learnt that BICMA accused BBSC of presenting a one-sided view and of broadcasting clippings of the film which was not certified by BICMA, disseminating incorrect information and, thereby, misinforming and misleading the public.

Staff reporter

Advertisement