Question : Vulgar-Derogatory Dialogues- Remarks against Women in TV Programmes

(a) whether the Government is aware that several television channels including Doordarshan are airing sponsored and other programmes and advertisements containing vulgar and derogatory dialogues/remarks/ contents against women in the guise of comedy or otherwise;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is taking any action against these channels, whenever such instances are brought to their notice and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to amend the Indian Penal Code and Indecent Portrayal of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 or formulate a new code of conduct to check telecasting of such programmes and advertisements and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the time by which the proposed amendments/new code of conduct is likely to be implemented?

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

(a) to (c). As per existing regulatory framework, all programmes and advertisements telecast on private satellite TV channels and transmitted/re-transmitted through the Cable TV network are required to adhere to the Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 framed thereunder. The Act does not provide for pre-censorship of any programme and advertisement telecast on such TV channels. However, it prescribes that all programmes and advertisements telecast on such TV channels should be in conformity with the prescribed Programme Code and Advertising Code enshrined in the said Act and the rules framed thereunder, which contain a wide range of parameters to regulate programmes and advertisements including portrayal of women in a vulgar or indecent manner or contain derogatory dialogues/remarks against women.

The Ministry has set up Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) to monitor the content telecast on private TV channels with reference to the violation of Programme and Advertising Codes. An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has also been set up in the Ministry to take cognizance suo-moto or look into specific complaints regarding violation of Programme and Advertising Codes by private TV channels. The IMC has representatives from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs, Law, Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare, Consumer Affairs, Information & Broadcasting and a representative from the industry in Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). The IMC meets periodically and recommends action in respect of violation of Programme and Advertising Codes by private TV channels. Apart from this, the Ministry has also issued directions to States to set up District level and State level Monitoring Committees to monitor content telecast on cable TV channels.

Details of action taken on violation of Programme and Advertising Codes by private TV channels for telecast of content of indecency/obscenity/vulgarity in TV programmes and Advertisements in the last three years and the current year is enclosed at Annexure-I.

Further, as part of the self-regulatory mechanism Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), a representative body of non-news & current affairs TV channels, has set up Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) to examine the complaints relating to content of television programmes. To ensure that the channels do not cross the thin line between comedy and vulgarity, the BCCC has issued an Advisory dated 27/12/2012 with regard to comedy shows aired on various non-news general entertainment TV channels. The same is enclosed at Annexure-II.

Prasar Bharati has stated that all Programmes of Doordarshan are telecast in conformity with the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 enshrined under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

(d) to (e): There is no such proposal at present.

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