Centre frames new Broadcast Regulation Law

The HC has directed that only movies with ?U? and ?U/A? certification can be broadcast on channels, reports Urvi Jappi .

The central government is framing a new Broadcast Regulation law with a view to keeping a check on movies being broadcast on various channels in keeping with the Bombay High Court order.

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Counsel for the central government told the HC on Wednesday that it was framing new law to monitor the films being broadcast as to whether they were following the earlier HC orders or no. The HC had directed that only movies with ‘U’ and ‘U/A’ certification can be broadcast on channels.

Last August, the court order had also brought the foreign channels and Direct To Home providers under its purview along with the cable operators and broadcasters.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice H.L. Gokhale and Justice V.M. Kanade was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a city-based professor Pratiba Naithani seeking ban on telecast of movies with adult content on television.

While disposing off the PIL, the bench refused to pass directions asking the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to censor all the television serials and programmes as well.

MM Vashi, Naithani’s counsel sought that the CBFC should monitor the television content as well as provided by the Cinematographers Act, 1950. However, central government counsel argued that the body did not have the necessary machinery or manpower to monitor all the television programmes.

Email Urvi Jappi: urvi.jappi@hindustantimes.com