'Obscenity in TV shows bad for society': HC issues notice to govts, agencies on PIL against Big Boss
Big Boss, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued notices to the state and central governments, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Star Maa Television, renowned actor Nagarjuna, and Endemol India. The court expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs, stating that filing complaints after the show's telecast is akin to a post-mortem examination, serving little purpose. The bench, consisting of Justice U Durga Prasad Rao and Justice P Venkata Jyothirmai, emphasized the need for a regulatory mechanism to censor such objectionable content and urged someone to address the issue.
Ketireddy Jagadeeswar Reddy, president of Telugu Yuva Shakti and a film producer, filed two PIL petitions, claiming that Big Boss was being aired without any censorship, rendering it unsuitable for children. G Shiva Prasad Reddy, arguing on behalf of the petitioner, stressed that any show containing adult content should be broadcasted between 11 pm and 5 am. Endemol's senior counsel, C Raghu, argued that the Big Boss show was no longer being telecast, making the petitions irrelevant.
On behalf of Star India Maa TV, senior counsel C V Mohan Reddy stated that there is no provision for pre-telecast censorship. He urged viewers to raise complaints if they had any grievances. Mohan Reddy further explained that a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism exists under the Cable Network Act.
He suggested that if the show needed pre-telecast censorship, the Union government should legislate accordingly. Additionally, he asserted that viewers who find the content objectionable can simply change the channel, citing the freedom of expression under Article 19 of the Constitution that also applies to television shows. Considering all
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