Fashion TV banned for 10 days for showing topless women

The Union government on Thursday banned the transmission of Fashion TV (FTV) for 10 days starting tomorrow.

The Union information and broadcasting ministry has prohibited transmission and re-transmission of the channel with effect from 7pm on March 12 to 7pm on March 21 through cable television networks and any other platforms throughout the country.

In a statement, the ministry said it had observed that FTV violated various clauses of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.

"Therefore, the ministry, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 20 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, as amended from time to time, has taken this action," the statement said.

The statement said it was noticed by the ministry that "a programme on FTV channel was telecast on September 4, 2009, at 15:37:34 hours and 19:01:48 hours showing women with nude upper body, which was offending against good taste and decency.

"The visuals were found to be obscene, denigrating women, and were not suitable for children and unrestricted public exhibition," the statement added.

In 2007 also, the ministry had prohibited transmission or re-transmission of FTV for telecasting programmes such as Midnight Hot featuring skimpily clad and semi-naked models.

The prohibition was, however, revoked on May 25, 2007, after FTV.com India channel regretted its error and promised not to repeat it.