(a) whether the Government is aware that the history of the country is being misrepresented through the films;
(b) if so, the details of the complaints received by the Government during the last three years and the current year and the action taken by the Government thereon; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to impart value based moral education to the children through television serials?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING [COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]:
(a) & (b): The CBFC certifies films in accordance with the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983 and the guidelines issued thereunder. The guidelines issued under Section 5B(2) of the Cinematograph Act stipulates that the CBFC shall ensure that a film:
• is judged in its entirety from the point of view of its overall impact.
• is examined in the light of the period depicted in the film and the contemporary standards of the country and the people to whom the film relates, provided that the film does not deprave the morality of the audience.
Further, in accordance with Rule 41(4) of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983, if warranted CBFC asks the applicant to furnish the script and authentic sources/documents on which the subject of his film is based in order to ensure the correctness of the incidents depicted in the film.
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(c): It is stated that as per existing regulatory framework, the programmes and advertisements telecast on private satellite TV channels are regulated as per Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the rules framed thereunder. The Act does not provide for pre-censorship of the programmes and advertisements aired on these channels. However, all these channels are required to adhere to the said codes. The said codes contain a wide range of parameters to regulate programmes and advertisements on TV channels. The Programme Code includes certain provisions pertaining to child-related issues such as Rule 6(1) (l) which provides that no programme should be carried in the cable service which “denigrates children”, Rule 6(4) “Care should be taken to ensure that programmes meant for children do not contain any bad language or explicit scenes of violence”, and Rule 6(5) “programmes unsuitable for children must not be carried in the cable service at times when the largest numbers of children are viewing” and Rule 7(7) of the Advertising Code also contains provisions related to child-related issues which stipulates that “No advertisement which endangers the safety of children or creates in them any interest in unhealthy practices or shows them begging or in an undignified or indecent manner shall not be carried in the cable service”.
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