Lok Sabha Question No. 1005 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-04
Subject: Monitoring of Contents of Programmes
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: AJAY NISHAD, DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL, PRATHAP SIMHA, BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN, CHHOTELAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1OO5 TO BE ANSWERED ON O4I1A2015

## MONITORING OF CONTENTS OF PROGRAMMES

1005, SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

SHRI CHHOTE LAL:

## Wll the Minister of INFORMATION  AND BROADCASTING

- (a) whether the Government  has taken cognizance  of the rising contents of obscenity, vulgarity, nudity and violence in the television programmes/films  including advertisements  in the country;

be oleased to state:

- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of channels against which action has been taken for violating  Programme and Advertising  Codes during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether  the Government has set up any authority/centre  for monitoring of contents of programmers  and advertisements  being telecasted  on television in the country;
- (d) if so, the details  thereof and the roles/rights  assigned  to the said authority/centre along with funds allocated for the purpose; and
- (e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government  to monitor  the contents of programmes  being telecasted  on Doordarshan and private  channels?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING lcol  RAJYAVARDHAN  RATHORE (Retd.)l

(a) & (b): No such study has been brought to the notice of the Ministry. As per existing regulating  framework, all programmes  and advertisements  telecast on TV channels  and transmitted/retransmitted through the Cable TV network 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 suomotu and whenever violation of Codes is brought  to the notice of the Ministry. These codes contain a whole range of parameters  to regulate programmes  and advertisements including content of obscenity,  vulgarity  and nudity  in TV programmes.  Details of action taken on violation  of Programme and Advertisement code by Private TV channels for telecast of obscene visuals in the last three years and the current year is enclosed at Annexure.

In so far as film is concerned, Central Board  of Film Certification  certifies film for public exhibition  in accordance  with Cinematograph Act, 1952, Cinematograph (Certification)  Rules,  1983 and the guidelines  framed thereunder.

The Central  Board of Film Certification  also ensures that the film-

- (i) is judged  in its entirety from the point of view of its overail impacts; and
- (ii) is examined in the light of the period depicted in the film and the contemporary standards of the country and people to which the film relates, provided  that the film does not deprave the morality of the audience.

(c) & (d): Ministry has set up a state-of-art Electronic  Media Monitoring  Centre (EMMC) to fook over the content  telecast  on Private satellite television  channels  on a 24i7 basts. Presently it covers 600 w  channels.  An amount  of Rs. 90 crores (Rupees\_,  Ninety crores) has been allocated under 12th Five  year plan  (2012-2017)  for strength-ening  of EMMC.

(9),  Ministry  has constituted  an Inter Ministerial  committee  (lMc)  to look into the violations  suo-motu or whenever violation of the  programme  and Advertising codes is brought to the notice of this Ministry  in respect  of private  satellite  TV channels.  IMC has representatives  from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Defence, External  Affairs, Law, women and child Development, Health and Family welfare,  consumer Affairs and a representative  from the industry in Advertising standards  council of India (ASCI). IMC meets periodically  and recommends  action in respect of violations.

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.

In so far as Doordarshan  is concerned,  it follows  its code for commercial Advertising  as per norms. No such contents  of obscenity,  vulgarity, nudity and violence are being shown on Doordarshan  programmes/films  including  idvertislments  in tne country.

## ANNEXURE AS REFERRED TO lN PARTS (a) AND (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTTON NO. 'tOOs FOR O4.{2.201s

Action Taken on violation of Proqramme  and Advertisement  code bv Private TV channels for telecastinq  obecene visuals in last three vears and cunent vear.

## Year  -  20'12

| sl. No.   | Name of Ghannels                    | Reason for Shanv Cause Notice                                                                                                        | Details of action taken                                                                                   |
|-----------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|           | SS TV                               | Telecast of programme titled 'Sizzling Hits' showing obscene and vulgar content                                                      | An Order 08.02.2012 was issued to the channel prohibiting the transmission of the channel for seven days. |
| 2.        | FX channel                          | Telecast of programme 'Harpeis lsland', 'Crash', 'Mad Men Sutra', 'Frasier', 'Saving Grace' and 'Scoundrels' showing obscene visuals | A Warning dated 1 8.04.201 2 was issued to the channel.                                                   |
|           | Fox Crime                           | Telecast of programmes 'Sleeper Cell' and '1000 ways to die' showing obscene visuals.                                                | A Warning dated 08.05.2012 was issued to the channel.                                                     |
| 4.        | Channel [Vl                         | Telecast of programme 'Love Net 2' containing indecent, vulgar and obscene content                                                   | A Warning dated 28.05.2012 was issued to the channel.                                                     |
| 5.        | All News & Current Affairs channels | Telecast of programmes as news items showing clippings from films not certified for unrestricted public exhibition                   | An Advisory dated 19.09.2012 was issued to the channel.                                                   |
| 6.        | Zee Trendz                          | Telecast of programme 'Bikini Destination' containing obscene, indecent and vulgar visuals                                           | An Advisory dated 05.1 1 .201 2 was issued to the channel.                                                |

## Year  -  2013

| Enterr 1 0   | Telecast of Hindi 'Musafi/,'Plan' Banaya Apnne'- films. feature film and 'Ashiq 'A' certified   | Order dated 08.01 .2013 was issued to the channel prohibiting the transmission of the channel for one day .   |
|--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 8.   | Zing            | Telecast of Hindi feature film "Hawas" - 'A' certified film.                                                                                                                                                         | Order dated 08.01 .2013 was issued to the channel prohibiting the transmission of the channel for one day .                        |
|------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| o    | Manoranjan TV   | Telecast of Hindi feature film "Tooless" - "A' certified film.                                                                                                                                                       | Order dated 08.01 .2013 was issued to the channel prohibiting the transmission of the channel for one dav.                         |
| 10.  | SS TV           | Telecast of Trailer of the film "Friends with Benefits" which was not certified by CBFC for telecast on TV channels.                                                                                                 | Order dated 08.01 .2013 was issued to the channel prohibiting the transmission of the channel for one day.                         |
| 1',1 | tr-n /          | Telecast of programme "Designers in High Definition" on 11.9.11, "Chantellie Lingrie, Paris" on 12.09.11 & "Lingerie" on 15.09.11 and '1sth Anniversary-Top Designers" showing obscene and women denigrating content | An Order dated 28.03.2013 was issued to the channel prohibiting the transmission of the channel for 10 days                        |
|      | NDTV Good Times | Telecast of programme "Life a Beach" during April, May ,201 1 showing obscene and women denigrating content                                                                                                          | An Advisory dated 02.04.2013 was issued to the channel.                                                                            |
| 13.  | Mahuaa          | Telecast of Hindi feature film 'Aulaad' and 'Ek Aur Kurukshetra' - 'A' certified films.                                                                                                                              | An order dated 25.04.2013 was issued to the channel prohibiting the transmission of the channel for one day.                       |
| 14.  | AXN             | Telecast of Hindi feature film 'Darkness Falls' - 'A' certified film.                                                                                                                                                | An order dated 25.04.2013 was assued to the channel prohibiting the transmission of the channel for one day. Matter is sub-judice  |
| 15.  | Movies Ok       | Telecast of Hindi feature film'Dil Jale' - 'A' certified film.                                                                                                                                                       | An order dated 01 .05.2013 was issued to the channel prohibiting the transmission of the channel for one day. Matter is sub-judice |
| 16.  | Comedy Central  | Telecast of programme "Stand Uo Club"                                                                                                                                                                                | An order was issued on 17 .05.2013 prohibiting the transmission of the channel for 10 days Matter is sub-judice                    |
| 17.  | IBNT            | Telecast of the Advertisement of "Axe Shower Gel" containing vulgar and indecent content.                                                                                                                            | Order dated 29.05.2013 was issued directing the channel to furnish an undertaking regarding                                        |

|      |                  |                                                                                                              | not airing such ads in future.                                                                                                               |
|------|------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 18.  | MTV              | Telecast of the advertisement of "Axe Shower Gel" containing vulgar and indecent content                     | Order dated 17.06.2013 was issued directing the channel to furnish an undertaking regarding not airing such ads in future.                   |
| '19. | VH1              | Telecast of advertisement of "Axe Shower Gel" showing obscene and women denigrating content                  | Order dated 17.06.2013 was issued directing the channel to furnish an undertaking regarding not airing such ads in future.                   |
| 20.  | Colors           | Telecast of advertisement of "Axe Shower Gel" showing obscene and women denigrating content                  | Order dated 17.06.2013 was issued directing the channel to furnish an undertaking regarding not airing such ads in future.                   |
| 21.  | NTV              | Telecast of News report showing contents offending good taste and decency and women denigrating              | An order dated 18.09.13 issued to the channel to run the apology scroll for three days.                                                      |
| 22.  | Zoom TV          | Telecast of Film "Teesri Aankh - 'A' certified film.                                                         | An order dated 01.10.2013 was issued to Drohibit the transmission or re-transmission for one dav                                             |
| 23.  | ABN Andhra Jyoti | Telecast of a song based programme on "lde Mallea Velavani" containing obscene and women denigrating content | An order dated 01 .1 0.201 3 was issued to the channel to orohibit the transmission or re- transmission for seven days. Matter is sub-iudice |
| 24.  | Manoranjan TV    | Telecast of 'A' Certified Hindi feature film "Ek Chatur Nar"                                                 | order was issued on 17 .05.2013 to Drohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for seven oays                                   |
| 25.  | BIG CBS LOVE     | Telecast of programme "Excused" containing women denigrating content.                                        | An order was issued on 1 5.10.201 3 to the channel to orohibit the transmission or re- transmission of channel for one dav.                  |
| to.  | UTV Bindass      | Telecast of a programme "Emotional Atyachaar Season 3" containing obscene content                            | An order dated 06.1 1.2013 was issued to prohibit the transmission or re-transmission for three days Matter is sub- judice                   |
| 27.  | Manoranjan TV    | Telecast of various films without showing CBFC certificates                                                  | A warning dated 26.12.201 3 was issued to the channel                                                                                        |

## Yeat  -2014

| 28.   | WB        | Telecast of a 'V/UA" certified film "lt's a Boy Girl Thing" showing obscene and women denigrating content.   | Order dated 16.01.2014 was issued for taking the channel off air for one day.                                                                                                                                            |
|-------|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 29.   | Amrita TV | Telecast of 'A Certified film, 'The Don'                                                                     | A warning dated 27.03.2014 was issued to channel                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 5U.   | Sony TV   | Telecast of objectionable Comedy Show'Kahani Comedy Circus Ki'.                                              | A Directive dated 20.05.2014 issued to Sony TV for comoliance directions of the Court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as also the provisions contained in the programme and advertisement codes. |

## Year- 2015

| ?1   | NTV Telugu News   | Telecast of a song-based programme'Cine Colors'   | A order dated 19.01.2015 was issued to the channel for taking the channel off air for seven day.   |
|------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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