Now, ministry kaanta pricks adult promos

After asking television channels to oust the Kaanta Laga lass from their platform, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has shot off an...

After asking television channels to oust the Kaanta Laga lass from their platform, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has shot off another missive to broadcasters. This time, it is against adult films and promos of adult films on satellite channels. And it comes with a veiled threat: If you don’t follow, we will take suitable action against you.

The Ministry, in an advisory to the Indian Broadcasting Federation (IBF), an association of satellite broadcasters, has asked it to ‘‘advise’’ its members to show only ‘‘Universally’’ certified films for general viewing.

The I&B has asked the channels to strictly abide by the brief of the Cable Television Networks Act. ‘‘Films not certified by the Censor Board of Film Certification cannot be shown on satellite channels,’’ Ministry officials said. In fact, the Ministry has asked the IBF to advise its members accordingly. ‘‘If the channels don’t fall in line, we will resort to our own action against them,’’ the officials said.

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The programme code of the Cable Act very clearly states ‘‘no programme should be carried in the cable service which contravenes the provisions of the Cinematograph Act and programmes meant for adults should normally be carried in the cable service in the dead hours, that is late at night’’.

The code also states that ‘‘programmes unsuitable for children must not be carried in the cable service at times when a large number of children are viewing’’.

With most movie channels uplinking from outside India, exactly how the Ministry proposes to go ahead with its plans to show clean, wholesome entertainment for the entire family remains to be seen.