The Health Ministry may have agreed to defer banning of smoking scenes in movies till January 1, but the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has made it clear that the move will only be possible after April 2, 2006—with exemptions.Terming the ban as a bit ‘‘unrealistic’’ and ‘‘impractical’’, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has informed the Health Ministry officials of the April 2 deadline, so that ongoing movies can be completed. ‘‘It’s not possible for films which had already started shooting months back and have smoking scenes that cannot be omitted and re-shot,’’ said a member of the I&B Ministry team that met Health Secretary P K Hota recently.The Ministry has also said that ‘‘one cannot impose the ban’’ on smoking scenes as regards to old films, both foreign and Indian. At best, say I&B Ministry officials, disclaimers specifying that ‘‘cigarette smoking is injurious to health’’ can be displayed.The I&B Ministry team has pointed out that smoking scenes can be allowed if:• They are not glorified• If the historical setting of a movie necessitates smoking• If smoking is an integral part of the storyline‘‘In all such cases, a disclaimer will be shown at the beginning of the film,’’ the I&B Ministry team maintained.The Ministry has also brushed aside ‘‘cropping’’ or ‘‘masking’’ of smoking scenes in foreign films—old and new—as mentioned in the ban notification. Stating that the move is impractical and technically not feasible, the Ministry has made it clear that ‘‘only disclaimers are possible’’ before the beginning of such films.As for TV serials, the I&B Ministry has suggested that along with disclaimers—at the beginning and end—channels can run scrolls showing the statutory warning. ‘‘As far as live telecast is concerned, such a ban is out of the question,’’ the I&B Ministry has said.Porn channel banNEW DELHI: The government has banned the transmission or re-transmission of Free X-TV channel for telecasting programmes that are ‘‘against good taste or decency’’ and are likely to ‘‘adversely affect public morality’’. The ban order has been issued and forwarded to India Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and all Cable Operators and MSOs, said I&B Ministry sources. — ENS
