Tightier norms for selection of films for DD telecast; Dasmunsi

New Delhi, Dec 18 (UNI) A new committee has been set up for shortlisting films to be telecast on Doordarshan following complaints about irregularities in the selection process.

Giving this information in the Lok Sabha today, Minister for Information and Parliamentary Affairs Priya Ranjan Das Munsi said the committee will follow new tightier guidelines.

He said a preliminary enquiry conducted by the Ministry into the functioning of the Films Wing in Mumbai prima facie found irregularities in the selection and gradation of films. The procedure was observed to be deviating from the normal practice.

The Minister said that on the basis of these findings, three officials had been transferred and a CBI inquiry had been ordered.

The investigation was in progress, he said, adding that new stricter guidelines for selection of films were now in place to reduce the possibility of future lapses.

Theft in AIR: Replying to another question, the Minister said that disciplinary procedings had been issued against two officials of AIR in connection with the loss of one tape containing the recorded speech of former Jamm and Kashmir chief minister Sheikh Abdullah.

The tapes were found missing on November 19, 2004.

He said adequate arrangements had been made in Central Archives and the Libraray to check recurrence of such incidents in future.

Censor Board: The Minister also informed the House said that advisory panels of Central Board of Film Certification had been constituted for Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad regional offices.

The persons appointed to these panels are those who in the opinion of the Central Government were qualified to judge the effect of films on the public.

UNI NAZ VD VV1827