Lok Sabha Question No. 1686 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Vulgarity in Doordarshan
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1686

( TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2017 )

## VULGARITY IN DOORDARSHAN

## 1686. SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  different  Doordarshan  Kendras  broadcast  scenes  which  are  full  of obscenity and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has received suggestion representations to censor the broadcast  of  such  advertisements,  vulgar  scenes  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  taken/  proposed  to  take  any  new  initiative  to regulate  the  different  aspects  of  advertisements  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof ?

## ANSWER THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE    MINISTRY  OF  INFORMATION  AND BROADCASTING (COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)

(a): No. Madam,  Prasar Bharati has informed that all  programmes  and advertisements of Doordarshan are telecast as per the Doordarshan broadcast code which is in conformity with Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable  Television  Networks  Rules  1994  enshrined  under  the  Cable  Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.  The details of the said codes are available on the web  site of Doordarshan  namely  www.ddindia.gov.in  and  that  of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting namely  mib.nic.in.

(b) & (c): Certain complaints / representations have been received which are against private  satellite  TV  channels.  The  telecast  of  all  content  on  television  is  regulated under  the  Cable  Television  Networks  (Regulation)  Act,  1995  and  Cable  Television Networks Rules framed thereunder. The Act does not provide for pre-censorship of content telecast on such TV channels. However, it prescribes that all programmes and advertisements telecast on such TV channels should be in conformity with the prescribed programme code and advertisement code enshrined in the Act and Rules framed thereunder. The said codes contain a whole range of parameters to regulate programme and advertisements on TV channels including those which are considered  obscene.  The  concerns  raised  in  the  representation  /  suggestions received are addressed as per the provisions of the said Rules / Acts referred above. The  details  of  action  taken  against  those  TV  channels  which  are  found  guilty  of telecast of obscene and vulgar advertisement during the last three years and current year is annexed.

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## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (b)  & (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1686  FOR 26.07.2017

Details of action taken on violation of Programme and Advertisement code by private TV channels for telecast of content of indecency/obscenity/vulgarity in last three years and current year.

## Year - 2014

|   S.No. | Name of the Channel   | Nature of violation                                                                                       | Details of action taken                                                          |
|---------|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | WB                    | Telecast of a "V/UA" certified film "It's a Boy Girl Thing" showing obscene and women denigrating content | An order dated 16.01.2014 was issued for taking the channel off air for one day. |
|       2 | Lemon News            | Telecast of a news report, revealing the identity of the sexually abused women                            | A warning dated 10.03.2014 was issued to the channel                             |
|       3 | Amrita TV             | Telecast of 'A' Certified film, 'The Don'                                                                 | A warning dated 27.03.2014 was issued to the channel                             |
|       4 | All channels          | TV Channels continue telecast Films without displaying CBFC Certificates.                                 | An Advisory dated 29.05.2014 was issued to all TV Channels.                      |
|       5 | Vasanth TV            | Telecast of a programme called 'Vaimaye Vellum' revealed the identity of sexually abused minor children   | A warning dated 27.08.2014 was issued to the channel                             |

## Year 2015

|   S.No . | Name of the Channel   | Nature of violation                                     | Details of action taken                                                                            |
|----------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        6 | NTV                   | Telecast of a song-based programme 'Cine Colors'        | An order dated 19.01.2015 was issued to the channel for taking the channel off air for seven days. |
|        7 | NTV                   | Telecast of news report revealed the identity of sexual | A Warning dated 23.03.2015 was issued to the channel                                               |

|    |                 | harassment minor boy                                                                                              |                                                                                                                           |
|----|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  8 | Satlon News     | Telecast of News report about a private corporate party organised in a five star hotel on the Pune-Mumbai highway | An order was issued on 27.03.2015 to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for 30 days. |
|  9 | Jai Hind        | Telecast of 'A; certified film, titled 'Hai Harithe'                                                              | An order was issued on 07.04.2015 to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day. |
| 10 | Russia Today TV | Telecast of obscene programme 'Crazy Alert'                                                                       | An Advisory dated 06.07.2015 was issued to the channel.                                                                   |
| 11 | A2Z News TV     | The Channel telecast news reports on various date and revealed the identity of Sexually assaulted minor victims   | A warning dated 07.08.2015 was issued to the channel.                                                                     |

## Year 2016

|   S.No . | Name of the Channel      | Nature of violation                                                             | Details of action taken                                                              |
|----------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       12 | Care World               | Telecast of a programme "Kya Karun Main AB?" on unnatural sex.                  | A warning dated 24.05.2016 was issued to the channel.                                |
|       13 | F TV                     | Telecast of a programme namely fotos in alleged violation of the programme code | An Advisory dated 25.05.2016 issued to the channel                                   |
|       14 | CVR English News Channel | Telecast of News bulletins showing disturbing visuals of dead bodies            | An Advisory dated 25.05.2016 issued to the channel                                   |
|       15 | Oscar Movies             | Telecast of 'A' certified films on various dates.                               | An Advisory dated 06.06.2016 issued to the channel                                   |
|       16 | Care World               | Telecast of obscene programme 'Kya Karu Main                                    | An order was issued on 02.11.2016 to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- |

|    |                 | Aab'                                                                          | transmission of channel for seven days.                                                                                                                                                     |
|----|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 17 | News Time Assam | Telecast of news report revealing the identity of minor boy                   | An order dated 2.11.2016 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day ( to carry out the three awards of one day off air concurrently) |
| 17 | News Time Assam | Telecast of News bulletins showing disturbing visuals of dead bodies          | An order dated 2.11.2016 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day ( to carry out the three awards of one day off air concurrently) |
| 17 | News Time Assam | Telecast of News story defaming the image of MLA and denigrating women.       | An order dated 2.11.2016 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day ( to carry out the three awards of one day off air concurrently) |
| 18 | MBC TV          | Telecast of news report revealing the identity of sexually assaulted victims. | A Warning dated 29.11.2016 issued to the channel                                                                                                                                            |

## Year 2017

| S.No .   | Name of the   | Nature of violation   | Details of action taken   |
|----------|---------------|-----------------------|---------------------------|
| NIL      | NIL           | NIL                   | NIL                       |

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