The Uttarakhand High Court vide order dated June 18, 2018 has directed the district administration to ensure that no nude, semi-nude or obscene posters are displayed in any districts of the state and that no children below the age of 12 years are permitted to enter cinema halls, multiplexes and theaters exhibiting ‘A’ certified films. The court said that films promoting the use of drugs and having an “indecent representation of women, which is derogatory to women” were circulated through pirated videos, DVDs and CDs and their posters were put up at public spaces, exposing kids of an “impressionable age” to them. Read order here.
Taking note of “glorifying of liquor, wine and drugs in any song, even in live shows including folk songs”, the Uttarakhand high court ordered the director general of police to ensure that such songs are “not played anywhere in the state.”
The following directions were passed by the High Court:
- The Court noted that there is violation of the guidelines issued by the Ministry (Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting), the children below the age of 12 years are not restrained to enter cinema halls/multiplexes, where “A” certificate films are screened. There is a violation of cable television network Rules, 1994. The posters are vulgar and display nudity.” CBFC was accordingly directed to strictly enforce the directions (mentioned in Annexure I of the petition) while undertaking certification of the films for public exhibition.
- The Director General of Police, Uttarakhand was directed to ensure that no songs are played glorifying the liquor, wine and drugs in any song even in live shows including folk songs in the State of Uttarakhand.
- The District administration was directed to ensure that no nude posters, semi-nude posters, obscene posters are displayed in any districts of the State of Uttarakhand at public places.
- The District administration was also directed to ensure that children below the age of 12 years are not permitted to enter cinema halls, multiplex and theaters exhibiting “A” certificate films.
The directions came while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Udham Singh Nagar, alleging that rules related to display of film posters and shows are regularly violated.
Image source: here
