Lok Sabha Question No. 3400 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Indecency in Reality Shows
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: BHARATI DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL, SUBHASH PATEL, ALOK SANJAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3400 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22/03/2017

## INDECENCY IN REALITY SHOWS

3400.  DR. BHARATIBEN D. SHYAL : SHRI SUBHASH PATEL: SHRI ALOK SANJAR:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether indecency and slovenliness have been rising in the so-called reality shows being aired on various private channels in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has received any complaints in this regard and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government has held anybody accountable in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the measures taken to prevent misuse of the fundamental right of expression in the live debates on television; and
- (e) the provision for controlling the content of the reality shows which depict crimes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  INFORMATION  &  BROADCASTING [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]

(a)  to  (e):  It  is  stated  that  as  per  existing  regulatory  framework,  the  telecast  of  content including  reality  shows  on  private  satellite  TV  channels  is  regulated  under  the  Cable Television  Networks  (Regulation)  Act,  1995  (CTNA,1995)  and  Cable  Television  Network Rules, 1994 (CTNR,1994) 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  Advertising  Code  enshrined  in  the  Act  and  the  rules  framed thereunder,  which  contain  a  whole  range  of  parameters  to  regulate  programmes  and advertisements. An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has also been set up in the Ministry to  look  into  the  specific  complaints  or  suo-motu  take  cognizance  against  the  violation  of Programme and Advertising Codes.  Appropriate action is taken as per Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, if any violation of the said codes is established.

There  have  been  instances  of  complaints  pertaining  to  the  reality  shows  and  the details of action taken against the channels which were telecast on TV channels in violation of Programme and Advertising Codes since 2006 till date is enclosed at Annexure.

The Constitution through Article 19(2) allows State to impose reasonable restrictions on Freedom of Speech and Expression on grounds of  sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency, or morality or  in  relation  to  contempt  of  Court,  defamation  or  incitement  to  an  offence  through enactment of Law.  This spirit of the Constitution is also reflected in the Cable Television Networks  (Regulation)  Act,  1995,  which  while  upholding  the  freedom  of  speech  in electronic  media imposes reasonable restrictions in public interest.   Section  5 of  the Act provides  that  'No  person  shall  transmit  or  re-transmit  through  a  cable  service  any programme unless such programme is in conformity with the prescribed programme code'.

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## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE    REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3400 FOR ANSWER ON 22.03.2017

## Action taken against the Reality/Game show since 2006 to till date

|   S.No. | Name of the channel   | Reason for issuing SCN                                                                                                         | Action Taken                                                                                                    |
|---------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Star One              | Programme titled 'Great Indian Laughter Challenge' violating the Programme Code.                                               | Advisory dated 25.07.06.                                                                                        |
|       2 | Star One              | An episode of programme 'Great Indian Laughter Challenge' wherein a derogatory remark was made against a particular community. | Advisory dated 22.10.2008 issued to the Channel.                                                                |
|       3 | Bindass               | Reality Show 'Dadagiri - Beat the Bullies'.                                                                                    | Warning dated 25.11.2008 issued to the Channel.                                                                 |
|       4 | Colors                | Telecast of a reality show 'Big Boss Season - 2' which was not in good taste.                                                  | An Advisory dated 03.06.2009 was issued to the Channel.                                                         |
|       5 | MTV                   | Telecast of obscene, indecent and vulgar reality hunt show programme titled 'MTV Roadies'.                                     | An Order dated 01.07.2009 issued to the Channel directing them to run an apology scroll for three days.         |
|       6 | Channel [V]           | Telecast of obscene reality beauty show titled 'Get Gorgeous 5'.                                                               | A Warning dated 03.07.2009 issued to the Channel.                                                               |
|       7 | Star Plus             | Telecast of a obscene, vulgar & indecent Reality Game Show titled 'Such Ka Samna'.                                             | A Warning dated 27.11.2009 issued to the Channel.                                                               |
|       8 | Sony TV               | Telecast of the Reality Show 'Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao'.                                                                     | A Warning dated 11.12.2009 issued to the channel.                                                               |
|       9 | Channel [V]           | Telecast of an indecent programme titled 'Launch Pad'.                                                                         | A Warning dated 11.12.2009 issued to the channel.                                                               |
|      10 | Real TV               | Telecast of indecent Reality Show titled 'Sarkar Ki Duniya'.                                                                   | A Warning dated 16.12.2009 issued to the channel.                                                               |
|      11 | Colors                | Telecast of the reality show 'BIG BOSS Season -3'.                                                                             | A Warning dated 18.12.2009 issued to the channel.                                                               |
|      12 | MTV                   | Telecast of the programme titled 'Vodafone MTV Splitsvilla-2' uttering unfair remark to another participant.                   | A Warning dated 04.01.2010 issued to the channel with the direction to run apology scroll for three days.       |
|      13 | NDTV Imagine          | Telecast of reality show 'Pati, Patni aur Woh' in the show infants and small babies were being used as commodities.            | A Warning dated 03.03.2010 issued to the channel.                                                               |
|      14 | Sony TV               | Telecast of the programme 'Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega'.                                                             | An Advisory dated 04.03.2010 issued to the channel.                                                             |
|      15 | Bindass               | Telecast of the Reality Show 'Dadagiri'.                                                                                       | A Warning dated 04.03.2010 issued to the channel.                                                               |
|      16 | MTV                   | Telecast of the reality show 'Splitsvilla-3' on the channel offended against good taste and decency.                           | A Warning dated 26.04.2010 issued to the channel with the direction to run apology scroll for three days.       |
|      17 | Colors                | Telecast of a reality show 'Big Boss Season - 4' which was not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition.                    | An Order dated 16.11.2010 issued to the channel directing them to shift the timing of the show after 11.00 p.m. |
|      18 | Imagine TV            | Telecast of a reality show 'Rakhi Ka Insaaf' which was not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition.                        | An Order dated 16.11.2010 issued to the channel directing them to shift the timing of the show after 11.00 p.m. |

|   19. | Zee Telugu   | Telecast of vulgar, indecent and obscene reality show titled 'Aata'.                                                                                                     | An Advisory dated 16.11.2010 issued to the channel.                                                                                  |
|-------|--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    20 | Colors       | Telecast of reality show "Bigg Boss -4" not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition.                                                                                 | An Order dated 23.12.2010 issued to the channel directing to shift the programme anytime after 11.00 p.m. and to run apology scroll. |
|    21 | All Channels | Reality show telecast by TV Channels have shown ill treatment and cruelty to animals.                                                                                    | An Advisory dated 25.04.2011 was issued to all the channels in comply with Rule 6(1) of the Programme code.                          |
|    22 | Sony TV      | Telecast of reality show 'Comedy Circus Mahasangram' showing indecent and child denigrating content.                                                                     | An Advisory dated 25.07.2011 issued to the channel.                                                                                  |
|    23 | Channel [V]  | Telecast of reality show 'Full Toss Vella Boys' showing obscene and indecent content.                                                                                    | A Warning dated 25.07.2011 was issued to the channel.                                                                                |
|    24 | Zee Telugu   | Telecast of reality show 'Konda Veeti Raja and Kotalo Rani' showing content insulting Adivasis and their culture.                                                        | An Advisory dated 25.07.2011 was issued to the channel.                                                                              |
|    25 | Bindass      | Telecast of the programme 'Emotional Atyachar - Season 2' containing obscene visuals and indecent and vulgar language.                                                   | An Order dated 26.07.2011 issued to the channel directing them to run apology scroll for 7 days.                                     |
|    26 | Bindass      | Telecast of indecent Reality Show titled 'Love Lock UP'.                                                                                                                 | A Warning dated 28.07.2011 was issued to the channel.                                                                                |
|    27 | Bindass      | Telecast of programme "Dadagiri-Revenge of the Sexes" wherein boy and girls participating in the programme were shown indulging in obscene, vulgar and abusive language. | A Warning dated 03.08.2011 was issued to the channel.                                                                                |
|    28 | All channels | Telecast of quiz-based game show.                                                                                                                                        | An Advisory dated 29.09.2011 issued to all TV channels, NBA and IBF.                                                                 |
|    29 | Colors       | Telecast of a reality show Bigg Boss Season-7.                                                                                                                           | An Advisory dated 26.03.2014 was issued to channel.                                                                                  |
|    30 | Colors       | Telecast of programme namely " Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi-Darr Ka Blockbuster".                                                                                      | A order dated 08.01.2015 was issued to the channel warning them and asking them to run an apology scroll.                            |

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