Complaint against Panjab Radio rejected by Ofcom

Allegations made against national digital station, Panjab Radio by Tasveer Palray, Singh Sabha London East Gurdwara, have been rejected by Ofcom.

In July 2018, a programme on Panjab Radio included a discussion with representatives of the parties standing for election to the management committee of the Singh Sabha London East Gurdwara. During the programme, a member of the incumbent management committee named Palray and read out part of an email sent by him to the management committee about one of its building contracts. Palray said that he was treated unjustly or unfairly in the programme because criticisms were made about him and he was not offered an opportunity to defend himself.

Ofcom considered that the reference to Palray did not amount to serious allegations against him. Ofcom took the view that, in the particular circumstances of this case, the broadcaster had taken reasonable care to satisfy itself that material facts were not presented, disregarded or omitted in a way that was unfair to Palray. It was therefore not necessary for the broadcaster to have provided Palray with an appropriate and timely opportunity to respond in order to avoid unfairness to him.

Panjab Radio welcomed the decision.