The Indian government is being forced by the country’s highest court to defend regulations which do not permit news bulletins on private FM radio.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case of Public-Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Delhi-based NGO Common Cause, according to local media.

The campaign group says the rules are illegal and that no such restrictions are in place for TV channels.

Common Cause argues that radio networks shouldn’t be treated differently from other media.

The ‘no news’ ruling has been in place since the launch of private radio in 2001.

But current rules do allow sport, weather and traffic bulletins along with public announcements.

Critics of the government say the restrictions exist to prevent reporting political news more than anything else.

The deregulation of radio is being rolled out in three phases.

Under Phase III – which is due to be announced this month – the government is likely to ease restrictions a little.

New draft rules would allow stations to rebroadcast news bulletins created by public broadcaster All India Radio.

But private radio operators say they want the freedom to generate their own news services.

The current restrictions also affect community radio.

The court has given government officials two weeks to respond.