Centre may soon ask CBFC to review certification if content in film against ‘public order’

As per a draft of the new Cinematograph Bill, the Centre may soon have the power to ask the CBFC to review the permission given to a movie if it feels the content is against ‘public order’.

The Centre may soon have the power to ask the 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. The Centre on Friday 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. 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.