Court again warns Big Boss over obscenity, slang

Mumbai, Dec 28: The Bombay High Court on Dec 27 warned the reality TV show "Bigg Boss" over its obscene language and visuals. The court also ordered the channel Colors not to broadcast such language that is required to be beeped or any obscene gestures made by the participants.

However, the court permitted the channel to air Salman Khan hosted reality show Big Boss on its prime-time slot which is 9 pm.

Claiming the two reality shows as "Adult Shows", Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry on Nov 17 ordered Big Boss and Raakhi Ka Insaaf, which airs on Imagine, to be aired after 11 pm.

Viacom 18, which owns Colors, however, challenged the ministry over its decision and moved the court. The court, however, supporting the channel stated, "No date has been mentioned as to when the show was against good taste and decency."

This time, a vacation division bench of justices SJ Kathawalla and UD Salvi was hearing a fresh petition filed by Viacom 18 Media Pvt Ltd on Dec 24 after it failed to receive a reprieve from the ministry of information and broadcasting.

On Dec 9, the High Court had directed the I&B ministry to issue a fresh show-cause notice and give a hearing to Viacom.

Viacom's counsel Shyam Diwan and advocate Ameet Naik submitted that the channel undertook not to violate rules, self-censor objectionable scenes and dialogues, and not provide clippings from the programme to any news channels.

"Everything is done in the interest of public and children at large. We are also not interested that children should see trash," they argued.

OneIndia News
(With inputs from PTI)