Lok Sabha Question No. 3437 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-15
Subject: Obscene Videos
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3437 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15/03/2018

## OBSCENE  VIDEOS

## 3437.  PROF. RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the obscene videos being aired through the television channels; and
- (b) if  so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken by the Government to curb such obscene videos?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b). As per existing regulatory framework, all programmes and advertisements telecast on TV channels and transmitted/ retransmitted through the Cable TV networks are required to adhere to the Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation)  Act,  1995  and  Rules  framed  thereunder.  Action  is  taken  as  per  rules  as  and when violation of Codes is noticed/brought to the notice of the Ministry. These codes contain a wide range of parameters to regulate programmes and advertisements including provisions to address content of obscenity, vulgarity and misleading advertisements.

Ministry has also constituted a composite Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) comprising officers from Ministries of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs, Law & Justice, Women & Child  Development, Health & Family Welfare, Consumer Affairs and a representative from Advertising Standards Council of India, to take cognizance suo moto or to look into specific complaints  regarding  content  on  private  TV  channels  on  any  platform  including  FM  Radio channels.    As  and  when  there  is  a  prima  facie  case  of  violation  by  private  satellite  TV channels  and  private  FM  channels  regarding  content  aired  by  them,  the  matter  is  placed before the IMC for its consideration/recommendations. Thus, IMC functions in a recommendatory capacity. The final decision is taken on the basis of the recommendations of IMC by the Ministry.

As part of self-regulation, the following are the self- regulatory  bodies of broadcasting industry:

(i) News Broadcasters Association (NBA)- a representative body of news and current affairs TV channels has set up News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) to consider complaints against or in respect of broadcasters relating to content of any news and current affairs telecast on TV channels.

(ii) Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), which is a representative body of non-News & current affairs TV channels, has set up Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) to examine the complaints about television programmes, and

(iii) Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a self regulatory body of advertising industry has set up Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) to consider complaints in respect of advertisements.

The above mechanism has also been acknowledged by the Supreme Court of India in its order dated 12.01.2017 in the matter of WP(C) No.387 of 2000 - Common Cause vs UOI & Ors.

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