Question : Revamping of CBFC

(a) whether the Government has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Shri Shyam Benegal to revamp the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to bring transparency and make it controversy free;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with terms and reference of the Committee;

(c) the time by which the said committee is likely to submit its report to the Government; and

(d) the other steps taken/to be taken by the Government to ensure that film certifications are issued only on non-discretionary basis?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]:

(a) to (d): Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has constituted an Expert Committee on 1st January, 2016 headed by Shri Shyam Benegal to recommend broad guidelines/ procedures which will set principles which shall guide the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with respect to certification of films.
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The other members of the Committee are:

1. Shri Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra,
2. Shri Piyush Pandey,
3. Smt. Bhawana Somaaya,
4. Smt. Nina Lath Gupta,
5. Shri Goutam Ghose,
6. Shri Kamal Haasan and
7. Shri K. Sanjay Murthy, Joint Secretary (Films), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Member Convener).

The Terms of Reference of the Committee shall be:

i. To study the extant procedures with respect to certification process being followed by CBFC which include formation of Examining Committee, Revising Committee and their composition, procedures being adopted for certification of original version of films, dubbed version or recertification for screening in different platforms (telecast etc.).

ii. To study the existing guidelines and procedures/practices being followed for certification process and also study various directives of Courts with respect to certification of films as well as notifications issued by other Government agencies having an impact on the certification process (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Environment & Forest).

iii. Recommend a broad guideline / procedure which will set principles which shall guide the Board with respect to certification of films within the ambit of the existing provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983 and guidelines for certification of films for public exhibition.

iv. To study the existing staffing pattern and recommend a suitable staffing structure with a view to render efficient and user-friendly service.

v. Any other issue that the Committee may deem fit to deliberate upon towards providing the said recommendations.

The Committee has been asked to submit its report to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2 months from the date of its constitution.

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