The days of watching uncensored movies online or “Censored scenes online” may soon be over. The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC or Censor Board) has told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that film makers will be debarred in the future from uploading uncensored movie clips online on platforms like YouTube etc, according to a Times of India report.
The court had sought a reply from the I&B ministry and Censor Board in lieu of a petition filed by a Ludhiana based NGO called Raksha Jyoti Foundation against the online uploading of uncensored trailers of movies ‘Kya Kool Hain Hum 3’ and ‘Mastizaade’, which it deemed as vulgar.
Assistant solicitor general of India Chetan Mittal, who appeared on behalf of the Ministry and Censor Board, informed the court that the Censor Board currently doesn’t have any jurisdiction on online content. “There is no provision in the Cinematograph Act to certify content which is posted on the internet, and CBFC does not have any control over any content which is available on YouTube or any other websites. However, CBFC will ensure that an undertaking be submitted by the producers/directors that they will not release the exited portion of the feature/film to anybody,” he said.
Mr. Mittal also informed the court that a new committee being headed by Shyam Benegal is looking at steps to for a better certification policy.