On Friday, The Centre initiated the process to amend the decades-old Cinematograph Act. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting put out a draft of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the public domain and sought comments from the people before it takes it to the Parliament.
The Centre may soon have the power to ask Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to review the permission given to a movie for public exhibition if it feels its 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 offence.
According to the draft, the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 had been introduced in the Rajya Sabha in February 2019 to tackle the menace of piracy. The standing committee on information technology (2019- 20) examined the bill and made suggestions, on the basis of which relevant changes have been made.
The ministry said that complaints are sometimes received against films that allude to violation of Section 5B (1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, after a film is certified.
The ministry has now proposed granting revisionary powers to the government on account of violation of Section 5B (1) of the act. It cited Article l9 (2) of the Constitution which imposes reasonable restrictions upon the freedom of speech and expression of citizens for the same.
Another change in the draft bill pertains to the certificate provided by the certification board. As per the provision of the present act, the certificate issued by the board is valid for 10 years.
Hence, if the central government deems it necessary, it can direct the Chairman of the CBFC to re-examine a film which has been certified for public exhibition on account of violation of Section 5B(1) of the act.
