Time to take a re-look at Censor Board’s role: Arun Jaitley

“I have some views on it and I am already discussing with some experts as to what the future role of this body should be.”

Commonly referred to as the Censor Board, the CBFC is a statutory censorship and classification body under the I&B Ministry and is mandated to regulate the public exhibition of films under the Cinematograph Act of 1952.

The Board first saw itself in the middle of a controversy when its previous chairperson Leela Samson and several Board members resigned from their posts citing “interference, coercion and corruption” of panel members and officers of the organisation appointed by the I&B Ministry. They accused the government of a “cavalier and dismissive” attitude towards the body.

Ever since filmmaker Pahlaj Nihalani took over as the new chairperson, the body has found itself at the centre of several controversies relating to alleged arbitrary “censorship”. Many of Nihalani’s decisions have been openly opposed by the Board members over the past few months.

Asked whether he was unhappy with Nihalani’s conduct, Jaitley said, “Well, I would like the Certification Board to be controversy-free.”