Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) has suggested a collaboration mechanism between the self regulatory body for non news general entertainment channels and Censor Board for regulating content of films for broadcast on television.
Stating that while BCCC does not have the mandate to look into complaints related to films, Justice A.P. Shah said, “Ideally there should be a system through which adult rated movies can be aired on channels with some cuts during the non-restrained time slot on television.”
He added that there should be some co-ordination between CBFC and BCCC so that movies such as
BCCC which was established in June 2011, have till date received over 8,000 complaints as of November last year of which a majority of them are pertaining to sex, obscenity and nudity and the body has been giving out advisories on portrayal of women and children besides others. It claims that it has seen nearly 100 per cent implementation of these advisories.
The Ministry had earlier asked BCCC’s views on what constitutes as a violation of Programming and Advertising Code by broadcasters, considering certain clauses in the uplinking guidelines state that a broadcaster’s licence renewal will be subject to the fact that the channel should not have breached the code five times or more.
BCCC which submitted its recommendations this week has stated that there should be gradation of violations ranging from mild to severe depending on degree, duration and harm caused by such a breach by a channel.
Among various other recommendations, the complaints council has also said that suspension or revocation of licence must be resorted to in exceptional circumstances only.
“We feel a provision for graded financial penalty can be introduced for serious violations by channels,” Justice Shah added.
meenakshi.v@thehindu.co.in