Lok Sabha Question No. 3867 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-03
Subject: Screening of Objectionable Contents
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE, GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY, AJAY NISHAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3867

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 03/01/2019

## SCREENING OF OBJECTIONABLE CONTENTS

3867.

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE:

SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether screening of violence, nudity and obscenity are increasing in Films, T.V. programmes and Advertisements on various Television and Doordarshan channels;
- (b)       if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c)         whether the Government has received any complaints in this regard;
- (d)        if  so,  the  number  of  cases  registered  regarding  screening  of  objectionable contents during each of the last three years and current year and the action taken by the Government during the said period thereto, channel-wise;
- (e)      whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  a  statutory  mechanism  for redressal  of  complaints  against  private  TV  channels  and  radio  stations  for telecasting/broadcasting objectionable contents and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government also proposes to amend the Indian Penal Code and the  Indecent  Representation  of  Women  (Prohibition)  Act,  1986  and  other related  Acts  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  these  are likely to be amended?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b):  Central  Board  of  Film  Certification  (CBFC)  certifies  films  for  public exhibition in accordance with Cinematograph Act, 1952, Cinematograph (Certification)  Rules,  1983  and  the  guidelines  issued  there  under.  The  Principle Guidelines for  Certifying  films  issued  under  section  5B  (2)  of  the  Cinematography Act, 1952 lay down the following for certification of films by CBFC:
-  Anti-social activities such as violence are not glorified or justified;
-  The  modus  operandi  of  criminals,  other  visuals  or  words  likely  to  incite  the commission of any offence are not depicted;
-  Human sensibilities are not offended by vulgarity, obscenity or depravity;
-  Such dual meaning words that obviously cater to baser instincts are not allowed;
-  Scenes degrading or denigrating women in any manner are not presented;
-  Scenes  involving  sexual  violence  against  women  like  attempt  to  rape,  rape  or any form of molestation or scenes showing sexual perversions or scenes of a similar nature are avoided, and if any such incident is germane to the theme, they shall be reduced to the minimum and no details are shown.

Programmes and advertisements on Doordarshan are telecast as per the Doordarshan broadcast code/commercial code for advertising and in conformity with the  Programme  and  Advertising  codes  prescribed  under  the  Cable  Television Network Rules 1994 enshrined under the Cable Television  Networks  (Regulation) Act,1995.

In so far as Private TV channels are concerned, the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Cable Television Network Rules,1994, inter-alia, provides that no programme should be carried in the cable  service  which  contains  anything  obscene,  defamatory,  deliberate,  false  and suggestive innuendos and half-truths.

- (c) & (d): Details of action taken against various private TV channels for violation of Programme and Advertising Codes during the last three years and the current year is at Annexure.
- (e):       An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been set up in the Ministry to take cognizance suo-motu or look into the specific complaints regarding violation of the Programme and Advertising Codes by private TV channels and make appropriate recommendations. The Mnistry has also issued directions to States to set up District level and State level Monitoring Committees to monitor content telecast on private TV channels and private FM Radio Channels and Community Radio Stations.

The Government 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.

In so far as FM Radio Channels are concerned, they are required to comply with the terms & conditions of the Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) executed by  them  with  the  Ministry  of  Information  &  Broadcasting  at  the  time  of  granting permission to run FM radio channels. GOPA provides, inter-alia,  that the permission holder  shall  ensure  that  no  content,  messages,  advertisement  or  communication, transmitted  in  its  Broadcast  Channel  is  objectionable,  obscene,  unauthorized  or inconsistent with the laws of India.

Apart from the  above, 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  nonNews & 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 systems are considered adequate.

(f):      Ministry of Women & Child Development has informed that taking into account the technological advancement in the field of communications such as social media platforms, etc., the Ministry has taken a considered view to withdraw the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2012 in the present form and also decided to amend the Act to broaden the scope of the law to cover the audio-visual media and content in electronic form.

***********

## ANNEXURE  AS  REFERRED  TO  IN  PARTS  (c)  AND  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3867  FOR 03.01.2019

Action  Taken  by  Ministry  of  Information  and  Broadcasting  on  violation  of Programme  and  Advertisement  Codes  by  Private  TV  channels  for  telecast  of objectionable content during the years  the last three years and the current year

Year - 2015

|   S.No . | Name of the Channel   | Details of content telecast on TV channels                                                                        | Details of action taken                                                                                                             |
|----------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Colors TV             | Telecast of programme namely " Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi-Darr Ka Blockbuster"                                | A order dated 08.01.2015 was issued to the channel thereby warning the channel and directing it to run an apology scroll for on day |
|        2 | Lemon News            | Telecast of programme namely "Khauf Ke 10 Destination"                                                            | A warning dated 19.01.2015 was issued to the channel                                                                                |
|        3 | NTV                   | Telecast 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 day.                                   |
|        4 | 24 Ghanta TV          | Telecast of news report showing death of a young man without morphing or blurring                                 | A Warning dated 23.03.2015 was issued to channel                                                                                    |
|        5 | NTV                   | Telecast of news report revealed the identity of sexual harassment minor boy                                      | A Warning dated 23.03.2015 was issued to channel                                                                                    |
|        6 | Satlon News           | Telecast of News report about a private corporate party organised in a five star hotel on the Pune-Mumbai highway | An order dated 27.03.2015 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re-transmission of channel for 30 day.          |
|        7 | TV9                   | Telecast a 'Bullet News' political satire targeting Chief Minister of Telangana.                                  | An order dated 27.03.2015 was issued to the channel for running apology scroll.                                                     |
|        8 | Jai Hind              | Telecast of 'A; certified film, titled 'Hai Harithe'                                                              | An order dated 07.04.2015 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re-transmission of channel for one day.         |
|        9 | Aljazeera TV          | Telecast of News report carried wrong graphical map of India repeatedly.                                          | An order dated 10.04.2015 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re-transmission of channel for 5 day.           |

|   10. | Sathiyam TV     | Telecast of objectionable programme 'Ungal Aseervatha Seram' and Paarthathum Padithathum by Sathiyam TV                                               | A warning dated 12.05.2015 was issued to the channel                                                                                 |
|-------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    11 | Sudarshan News  | Telecast of a programme called BINDAAS BOL making allegation about non-salutation of National Flag on the Republic Day by the Hon'ble Vice President. | A warning dated 17.06.2015 was issued to the channel.                                                                                |
|    12 | Raj News        | Telecast of disturbing visuals of dead bodies without blurring.                                                                                       | A warning dated 22.06.2015 was issued to the channel                                                                                 |
|    13 | Raj News        | Telecast of disturbing visuals of a women body burning up into flames without blurring.                                                               | A warning dated 02.07.2015 was issued to the channel.                                                                                |
|    14 | Russia Today TV | Telecast of obscene programme 'Crazy Alert'                                                                                                           | An Advisory dated 06.07.2015 was issued the channel.                                                                                 |
|    15 | Channel 2 News  | Telecast of disturbing visuals of a man dead body without blurring.                                                                                   | A warning dated 22.07.2015 was issued to the channel.                                                                                |
|    16 | A2Z News TV     | The Channel telecast news reports on various date and revealed the identity of Sexual assault minor victims                                           | A warning dated 07.08.2015 was issued to the channel.                                                                                |
|    17 | DY 365          | Telecast of News story defame the image of MLA and denigrating women.                                                                                 | A order dated 07.08.2015 was issued to the channel thereby warning the channel and directing it to run an apology scroll for one day |

YEAR- 2016

|   S.No . | Name of the Channel      | Details of content telecast on TV channels                                      | Details of action taken                                |
|----------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
|       18 | Care World               | Telecast of a programme "Kya Karun Main AB?" on unnatural sex.                  | A warning dated 24.05.2016 was issued to the channel.  |
|       19 | F TV                     | Telecast of a programme namely fotos in alleged violation of the programme code | An Advisory dated 25.05.2016 was issued to the channel |
|       20 | Raj News                 | Telecast of News bulletins in alleged violation of the Programme code           | An Advisory dated 25.05.2016 was issued to the channel |
|       21 | CVR English News Channel | Telecast of News bulletins showing disturbing visuals of dead bodies            | An Advisory dated 25.05.2016 was issued to the channel |
|       22 | Sathiyam TV              | Telecast of News bulletins in alleged violation of the Programme code           | An Advisory dated 31.05.2016 was issued to the channel |

|   23. | NDTV India TV   | Telecast of a prgramme based on hanging of a 1993 Mumbai serial blast-case convict Yakub Memon   | An Advisory dated 01.06.2016 was issued to the channel                                                                                                                                     |
|-------|-----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    24 | NDTV 24x7       | Telecast of a programme 'Truth vs Hype -the Riddle of Yakub Memon'                               | An Advisory dated 01.06.2016 was issued to the channel                                                                                                                                     |
|    25 | Oscar Movies    | Telecast of 'A' certified films on various dates.                                                | An Advisory dated 06.06.2016 was issued to the channel                                                                                                                                     |
|    26 | Aaj Tak         | Telecast of a programme based on hanging of a 1993 Mumbai serial blast-case convict Yakub Memon  | An Advisory dated 07.06.2016 was issued to the channel                                                                                                                                     |
|    27 | ABP News        | Telecast of a prgramme based on hanging of a 1993 Mumbai serial blast-case convict Yakub Memon   | An Advisory dated 07.06.2016 was issued to the channel                                                                                                                                     |
|    28 | NDTV INDIA      | Telecast of news report on Pathankot terrorist attack                                            | An order dated 02.11.2016 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re-transmission of channel for one day                                                                 |
|    29 | Care World      | Telecast of obscene programme 'Kya Karu Mai Aab                                                  | An order dated 02.11.2016 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re-transmission of channel for seven day                                                               |
|    30 | 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) |
|    30 | 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) |
|    30 | 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) |
|    31 | People TV       | Telecast of News story showing disturbing visuals of dead bodies                                 | A Warning dated 29.11.2016 was issued to the channel                                                                                                                                       |
|    32 | MBC TV          | Telecast of news report revealing the identity of sexually assaulted victims.                    | A Warning dated 29.11.2016 was issued to the channel                                                                                                                                       |
|    33 | Reporter TV     | Telecast of News story showing disturbing visuals of violence.                                   | A Warning dated 29.11.2016 was issued to the channel                                                                                                                                       |

2017

|   S.No . | Name of the Channel   | Details of content telecast on TV channels                                                                    | Details of action taken                                                                                                         |
|----------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       34 | TV-9 (Marathi)        | Telecast of news report showing disturbing visuals of death of a man who set himself on fire                  | An Advisory dated 28.02.2017 was issued to the channel for violation of Programme Code.                                         |
|       35 | All TV Channels       | Compliance with Rule 7(10) of Advertising Code                                                                | An Advisory dated 10.03.2017 was issued to all TV channels.                                                                     |
|       36 | All TV Channels       | Compliance of Provisions of Drug and Magic remedies Act, 1954 while telecasting advertisements on TV channels | An Advisory dated 12.07.2017 was issued to all TV Channels.                                                                     |
|       37 | All TV Channels       | Telecast of Condom Advertisements between 10:00 PM -6:00 AM while telecasting advertisements on TV channels   | An Advisory dated 11.12.2017 was issued to all TV channels.                                                                     |
|       38 | V TV channel          | Telecast a News programme 'Viral Truth' showing disturbing visuals of violence.                               | An order dated 12.12.2017 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one day.    |
|       39 | DY 365 TV channel     | Telecast a News report showing visuals denigrating child.                                                     | An order dated 13.12.2017 was issued to the channel to prohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for three days. |

2018

|   S.No . | Name of the Channel   | Details of Content telecast on TV channels                                         | Details of action taken                                                                              |
|----------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       40 | All TV channels       | Telecast of Republic Day Ceremony/Parade with sign language interpretation         | An Advisory dated 24.1.2018 was issued to all TV channels                                            |
|       41 | All TV Channels       | Telecast of Independence Day Ceremony/commentary with sign language interpretation | An Advisory dated 13.8.2018 was issued to all TV channels                                            |
|       42 | CVR Health            | Telecast of obscene programme 'Healthy Nights' on 29.12.2016 & 30.12.2016          | An Order dated 5.9.2018 was issued to take the channel off air for 3 days from 8.9.2018 to 11.9.2018 |

***********