Lok Sabha Question No. 3407 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-15
Subject: Increase in Release of Adult Movies
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU, ANJU BALA, Tejpratap Singh,Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3407 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2018

## INCREASE IN RELEASE OF ADULT FILMS

3407:  SHRI B. SRIRAMULU: SHRIMATI ANJU BALA:

SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  has  been  an  increase  in  the  release  of  number  of  adult  movies  (A certificate) in major languages across the country, according to Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC);
- (b) if so, the details thereof during the last two year, language-wise;
- (c) whether the government has received any complaints on violations of publishing/broadcasting/telecasting content fixed by the Government on violence/obscenity by various media;
- (d) if so, the action taken on such violations during the said period;
- (e) whether the Government has made any study about the adverse impact of increasing adult  content  and  violence  in  internet/print/electronic  media  on  society  including youth and adolescents;
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government in the regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): There has been no substantial increase in the number of films certified as 'A' by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in the recent years. Details of films certified under category 'U', 'UA' and 'A' in the recent years are as under:

## Indian and Foreign Feature Films (Digital)

|                            |   U |   UA |   A |
|----------------------------|-----|------|-----|
| 2014-15                    | 766 |  828 | 522 |
| 2015-16                    | 858 |  898 | 486 |
| 2016-17                    | 833 |  973 | 530 |
| 2017-18 (April to October) | 254 |  467 | 190 |

(c) to (g): As per existing regulatory framework, all programmes and advertisements telecast on private satellite TV channels and transmitted/re-transmitted through the Cable TV network are  required  to  adhere  to  the  Programme  Code  and  Advertising  Code  prescribed  under  the Cable  Television  Networks  (Regulation)  Act,  1995  and  Cable  Television  Network  Rules, 1994 framed thereunder. The Act does not provide for pre-censorship of any programme or advertisement telecast on such TV channels. However, it provides 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  said  Act  and  the  rules  framed thereunder, which  contain a wide  range of parameters to  regulate  programmes  and advertisements on TV channels including the content which is likely to give rise to obscenity or which is likely to lead to violence.  Details of action taken on violation of Programme and Advertising Codes by private TV channels for telecast of content of obscenity and violence during the last two years and the current year are enclosed at Annexure I.

It is further stated that the Ministry has set up Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) to monitor the content of private TV channels with reference to the violation of Programme and Advertising Codes.  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. IMC has representatives from the Ministry of  Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs, Law, Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Consumer Affairs and Information & Broadcasting and a representative from  the  industry  in  Advertising  Standards  Council  of  India  (ASCI).  The  IMC  meets periodically  and  recommends action in respect  of violation of Programme and Advertising Codes by private TV channels . Apart from this, the Ministry has also issued directions to States  to  set  up  District  level  and  State  level  Monitoring  Committees  to  regulate  content telecast on cable TV channels.

Indian  Broadcasting  Foundation  (IBF)  has  also  set  up  a  mechanism  for  self-regulation through Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) in case of non-news channels. As part of this, IBF has laid down Content Code & Certification Rules 2011 covering an entire gamut of content-related principles ad criteria for television broadcast.

The Press Council of  India  constituted  under  the  Press  Council  Act  of  1978,  has  issued  a compendium titled 'Norms of Journalistic Conduct' to specifically promote the standard of the media to act as a reference guide in varying circumstances for the journalists. Complaints regarding  violations  of  publishing  content  are  considered  and  adjudicated  by  the  Press Council of India under its mandate of preserving the freedom of the press and of maintaining and improving the standards of press in  India.  List of complaints adjudicated in the last 2 years along with action taken are enclosed at Annexure II .

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## ANNEXURE I

## ANNEXURE AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3407 FOR ANSWER ON 15.03.2018

Action Taken by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on violation of Programme and  Advertisement  code  by  Private  TV  channels  for  telecasting  content  depicting violence, obscenity during the last two years.

2016

|   S.No. | Name of the Channel      | Reason for Show Cause Notice                                                    | Details of action taken                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Care World               | Telecast of a programme "Kya Karun Main AB?" on unnatural sex.                  | A warning dated 24.05.2016 was issued to the channel.                                                                                                                                       |
|       2 | 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                                                                                                                                          |
|       3 | CVR English News Channel | Telecast of News bulletins showing disturbing visuals of dead bodies            | An Advisory dated 25.05.2016 issued to the channel                                                                                                                                          |
|       4 | Oscar Movies             | Telecast of 'A' certified films on various dates.                               | An Advisory dated 06.06.2016 issued to the channel                                                                                                                                          |
|       5 | Care World               | Telecast of obscene programme 'Kya Karu Mai Aab                                 | An order was issued on 02.11.2016 to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for seven day                                                                  |
|       6 | 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) |
|       6 | 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) |
|       6 | New 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) |
|       7 | MBC TV                   | Telecast of news report revealing the identity of sexually assaulted victims    | A Warning dated 29.11.2016 issued to the channel                                                                                                                                            |
|       8 | People TV                | Telecast of News story showing disturbing visuals of dead bodies                | A Warning dated 29.11.2016 issued to the channel                                                                                                                                            |
|       9 | Reporter TV              | Telecast of News story showing disturbing visuals of violence.                  | A Warning dated 29.11.2016 issued to the channel                                                                                                                                            |

2017

|   S.No. | Name of the Channel   | Reason for Show Cause Notice                                                                                | Details of action taken                                                                                                  |
|---------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | TV-9 (Marathi)        | Telecast of news report showing disturbing visuals of death of a man who set himself on fire                | An Advisory dated 28.2.2017 issued to the channel for violation of Programme Code                                        |
|       2 | All TV channel        | Telecast of Condom Advertisements between 10:00 PM - 6:00 AMwhile telecasting advertisements on TV channels | An Advisory dated 11.12.2017 issued to all TV Channels                                                                   |
|       3 | V TV channel          | Telecast a News programme 'Viral Truth' showing disturbing visuals of violence.                             | An order was issued on 12.12.2017 to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day |

## ANNEXURE II

## ANNEXURE AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3407 FOR ANSWER ON 15.03.2018

## Action  Taken  by  the Ministry  of  Information  and  Broadcasting  on  complaints regarding violation of publishing content during the last two years

2015-2016

|   S. No. | Name of Complainant                                                                               | Name of Respondent                            | Decision                   |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|----------------------------|
|        1 | Shyam Pannalalji Sharma, Member Executive Committee, Berar General Education Society, Maharashtra | The Editor, Suryodaya, Maharashtra            | Censured                   |
|        2 | Shri Kapil Marwah, Chartered Accountant, Mumbai                                                   | The Editor, DNA, Mumbai                       | Dismissed with observation |
|        3 | Shri Ved Prakash Gupta, General Secretary, Punjab Human Rights Committee, Bathinda                | The Editor, Punjab Kesari                     | Dismissed with Observation |
|        4 | Shri Narender Tulsidas Popat, District Thane, Maharashtra                                         | The Editor, Vartahar Naradvani, Palghar Thane | Censured                   |
|        5 | Shri Sonu Marwah, Chairman, Noujwan Welfare Soch, Bathinda                                        | The Editor, Punjab Kesari                     | Warned                     |

2016-17

|   S. No. | Name of Complainant                     | Name of Respondent                                                  | Decision    |
|----------|-----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|
|        1 | Shri Mohd. Ayub Qureshi, Mumbai         | Shri Syed Zafarul Islam, Chief Reporter, Lahren Fortnightly, Mumbai | Dismissed   |
|        2 | Ms. Rachna Sharma, Advocate &Secretary, | The Editor, Dainik Bhaskar and Nai Dunia                            | Disposed of |

|    | SSKS Foundation                                                                                    |                                                       |                              |
|----|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
|  3 | Dr. Rajender Singh Jadeja, General Secretary, Rajkot District Consumers Protection Council, Rajkot | The Editor, Divya Bhaskar                             | Dismissed with Observation   |
|  4 | Prof. K.V. Thomas, Ernakulam                                                                       | The Editor, Times of India, Mumbai                    | Dismissed                    |
|  5 | Shri A Devaneyan, Tamil Nadu                                                                       | The Editos, Kalai Kathir, Dinamalar and Daily Thanthi | Disposed of with Observation |
|  6 | Shri Suryakant Sharma, Jharkahand                                                                  | The Editor, Hindustan                                 | Dismissed for non- pursuance |

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