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On Wednesday, the Madras High Court made it clear that the government have to take decisions on regulation of “indecent, vulgar, obscene programmes” on television channels.

The bench of Chief Justice S.K.Kaul and Justice M.M.Sundresh this observation clear on the petition filed on for a direction to the Centre to regulate and prohibit transmission of explicit images of sexual perversion or acts of sexual violence.

In a counter, the center made it clear, the Centre submitted there was no pre-censorship of programmes telecast by television channels though they were required to adhere to the provisions of programmes /advertising code. This code is proposed to be revised.

A Ministerial Committee had been formed to look into a violation of the code. There were cases of the channels and action were taken for violating the rules. The center was examining the issue of a legislation to regulate the operation of broadcasting services.

The bench observed that there was no doubt that TV channel contents, at times, raised the issue of its undesirability. But this was the information age and as the technology is increasing it's not possible to stop.

AW: Arun Kumar