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Udta Punjab controversy: Jaitley seeks presentation on Benegal panel recommendations

Jaitley, who is likely to be given the presentation this week, on Thursday, said that movie certification norms have to be liberal and "some very radical changes" will be announced over the next few days.

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In the backdrop of the recent Udta Punjab fiasco, Information and Broadcasting (I&B) minister Arun Jaitley has sought detailed presentation of the Shyam Benegal committee recommendations, even as the ministry has carefully distanced itself from the Central Board of Film Certification. The Benegal committee, constituted by the I&B ministry, had submitted its first part of its recommendations in April and is expected to submit the rest of the report by June 12.

Jaitley, who is likely to be given the presentation this week, on Thursday, said that movie certification norms have to be liberal and "some very radical changes" will be announced over the next few days.

The Benegal panel on April 26 had submitted the first part of its report in which it had emphasised that the censorship powers of the CBFC should be curtailed and it should act as only a certification body. It had also recommended increasing the number of certification categories.

However, the panel had sought time till June 20 to submit its recommendations on issues relating to clearances to be obtained from the Animal Welfare Board under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and also matters related to depiction of smoking in films.

Udta Punjab producer Anurag Kashyap had approached minister of state for I&B Rajyavardhan Rathore seeking his intervention in the wake of escalating problems over the film with the CBFC. The CBFC had suggested removing the words Punjab, Jalandhar, Amritsar, election, MP, MLA, parliament and even 'party' from party worker among other expletives to grant the film an Adult certificate. The producers had approached the Bombay high court over the matter, where the case was posted to June 13 for orders.

However, I&B ministry officials had distanced themselves from their stand saying filmmakers can approach the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) in case they are not satisfied with the decisions of the CBFC. "Court guidelines also make it clear that in such matters it is not for the I&B ministry to take matters in its own hands," officials had said, citing a Supreme Court judgement.

Officials, however, refused to reveal if an ordinance will be brought to amend the Cinematorgraph Act of 1952, as suggested by the panel and said the recommendations are being examined.

However, many former CBFC members have cited interference of the ministry in the certification body. Former CBFC chairperson Leela Samson, who had resigned from her post last year, said, "There is a clear interference from the ministry in the CBFC. It has been like this since the last three to four years. All appointments in the CBFC board are made by the ministry."

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