(a) whether the Government has received several complaints regarding obscenity in the Print Media;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard;
(c) whether the Supreme Court has issued any directive on obscenity in the Print Media;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government proposes to give more powers to the Press Council of India to take action in such cases; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?.
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI C.M. JATUA)
(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. The Press Council of India (PCI), a statutory autonomous body set
up under the Press Council Act, 1978 to inculcate principles of self- regulation among the
press receives complaints regarding obscenity in the print media. The details of the
complaints received by PCI during the years 2007-08, 2008-09 & 2009-10 (till date) and the
action taken thereon is annexed.
(c) & (d) No formal directions have been received from the Supreme Court on the issue
of obscenity in the print media.
(e) & (f) The proposal to provide more penal powers to the Press Council of India is
under consideration.