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In the wake of various controversies about film releases as well as their broadcast on television, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has set up a panel to examine issues regarding certification under the Cinematograph Act. The decision comes in backdrop of the recent controversies over Kamal Haasan’s film Vishwaroopam despite being cleared by the Censor Board. I&B Minister Manish Tewari had earlier said that there was a need to have a relook at the Act.
On Monday, Tewari tweeted that the terms of references of the: “Committee on Cinematographic framework (will) give latitude to review every aspect of certification process holistically & ensure integrity.”
The committee, which will submit its report within two months, will be chaired by retired Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal. The other members are Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) Chairperson, Lalit Bhasin, actor Sharmila Tagore, writer Javed Akhtar, CBFC chairperson Leela Samson, Supreme Court advocate Rameeza Hakim and Secretary, South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, L Suresh and Raghvendra Singh, Joint Secretary (Films), I&B.
The committee will suggest measures to equip the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to deal with the increasing number of contemporary requirements of certification and increase in its transparency and efficiency, a Ministry statement said.
Some of the issues that the committee will look into include the process of certification under the Act as well as the mechanism followed by the examining and revising committees, categories of certification that exist as well as the ones that have been proposed in the Amendment Bill. It will also look into whether there is a requirement of special categories of certification for broadcasting of films on TV channels and radio stations. The panel will also review the mandate and functioning of appellate authority of FCAT to make it more effective.
The panel will also examine, “the role of the Central Government regarding sanctioning of cinematograph films for exhibition under Entry 60, List I of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India vis-à-vis Entry 33, List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India,” the statement said, besides suggesting effective legal remedies to check piracy and unlawful copies of films made.
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