Assertion (A):   The Supreme Court in 1995 passed the judgement that the broadcast media should be under the control of the public as distinct from Government. 

Reason (R):   Airwaves do not belong to private enterprises. 

(A) Both (A) and (R) are true. 

(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A). 

(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false. 

(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Correct Ans: (B)

Explanation:

The Supreme Court of India ruled in 1995 that the broadcast media should remain under public control rather than government control. This judgment emphasized that media serves the public interest and should operate independently to ensure fairness, diversity, and freedom of expression.

The court’s reasoning stemmed from the principle that airwaves belong to the public, not private enterprises or the government. Since airwaves are a limited public resource, their use must serve the people rather than commercial or political interests. However, while this reasoning supports the judgment, it does not serve as its direct explanation. The primary concern was ensuring media independence rather than simply denying private ownership of airwaves.

In conclusion, both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason does not directly explain the assertion. The ruling aimed to promote a balanced and unbiased broadcasting system, ensuring that media remains accountable to the public rather than being controlled by the government or private entities.