New Censor Rules: Centre Shocks Makers!

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has put a proposal of introducing the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021, in order to bring back its ‘revisionary powers’ over the Central Board of Film Certification. The government stated that it wants to make the film certification more effective and curb privacy. The center will take public feedback on the same till July 2.

If this bill gets implemented, the center will have the power to review a film even after it was certified by CBFC. It can also take an action on the movie if it feels the content is against the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or is likely to incite the commission of any offense.

In November 2000, the Supreme Court of India extended its support to a Karnataka High Court’s order which curbed the review powers of the central government after the censor board’s certification. The government now wants to add a provision “for granting revisionary powers to the government on account of violation of Section 5B(1) of the Act.”

“Since the provisions of Section 5B(1) are derived from Article 19(2) of the Constitution and are non-negotiable, it is also proposed in the Draft Bill to add a proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 6 to the effect that on receipt of any references by the Central Government in respect of a film certified for public exhibition, on account of violation of Section 5B(1) of the Act, the Central Government may, if it considers necessary, direct the Chairman of the Board to re-examine the film,” it stated.