Uttarakhand HC directs govt to stop vulgar film posters, songs glorifying alcohol

The court said steps should be taken to ensure that there is no obscenity, nudity and semi-nudity in the films and glorification of wine, liquor and drugs in the songs.

Updated on: Jun 20, 2018, 19:41:10 IST

Hindustan Times, Nainital | By Neeraj Santoshi

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Uttarakhand high court has directed the state government to ensure “obscene, nude and semi-nude posters” of films are not displayed in public places and there is no “glorification” of alcohol and drugs in songs, including folk and live shows, to promote morality and decency in the society.

A file photo of the Uttarakhand High Court in Nainital. (HT Photo)

The division bench of justice Lok Pal Singh and justice Rajiv Sharma gave these directions on Monday but the copy of the order was made available on Wednesday. The directions were issued while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Rakesh Kumar.

“Posters [of films] are vulgar and display nudity. There is an indecent representation of women, which is derogatory to women. These films are also shown by the pirated videos and DVD/CD. These movies are affecting the children of impressionable age,” the court said in its order.

“The posters are affixed at different public places open to public gaze, including minor children. The steps should be taken to ensure that there is no obscenity, nudity and semi-nudity in the films and glorification of wine, liquor and drugs in the songs,” it added.

The district administrations were also directed to ensure that children below the age of 12 years are not allowed inside cinema halls, multiplex and theatres exhibiting “A” certificate films as it is a violation of Cable Television Network Rules, 1994.

The court also took a judicial notice of the fact that “glorifying of liquor, wine, drugs etc has played havoc with the psyche of the children”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeraj Santoshi
Neeraj Santoshi is the Chief of Bureau for Hindustan Times in Uttarakhand, where he leads the state reporting team while covering government, politics, environment, wildlife, Uttarakhand High Court, and issues shaping the Himalayan region. With more than two decades in journalism across conflict zones, he has covered politically sensitive regions and environmentally fragile landscapes, and focused on stories that combine public interest with in-depth storytelling. An alumnus of Pune University with a Master’s in Communication Studies, he has reported extensively from Jammu & Kashmir (2003-2010), Madhya Pradesh (2010 to 2018 ) and Uttarakhand (Since 2018), covering subjects ranging from insurgency, elections and governance to wildlife conservation, mining, climate change, agriculture, human rights and social justice. He has covered politics and legislative assemblies of both Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh over more than a decade. Before taking over as Chief of Bureau in Uttarakhand, he served as Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times in Madhya Pradesh and earlier reported for both Hindustan Times and The Indian Express in Jammu & Kashmir, where he covered state politics, environment and insurgency-related developments. Over the years, his stories have focused on environmental degradation, wildlife, illegal mining, governance and the changing social fabric of Himalayan states and Central India. He is particularly interested in long-form explanatory journalism, and stories that explore the intersection of ecology, conservation, governance and society. Outside the newsroom, Neeraj enjoys reading widely on neuroscience, consciousness studies, Artificial Intelligence and quantum physics, with a special interest in Kashmiri Tantric Shaivist traditions. He is also passionate about wildlife, mountaineering and the Himalayas, interests that continue to inform his reporting and deepen his understanding of the region he covers.Read More

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