No decision taken over telecast of mature content on TV: Govt

"The programmes telecast on private satellite/cable television networks are regulated as per the programme code laid down under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995," Minister of State in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry C M Jatua said in Lok Sabha.

The code does not provide for telecast of mature content during late hours and therefore, the government has not taken any decision to allow TV channels to telecast reality shows with such content late in the night, he said.

"In case of programmes, 'Big Boss Season IV' telecast by Colors and 'Rakhi ka Insaaf' telecast by Imagine TV during 2010, the government had asked the channels to shift the telecast to a time after 11 PM," Jatua said.

Colors channel had challenged the order of the Ministry in the court of law and obtained stay, Jatua said.

Jatua said that in regard to the telecast of 'The Dirty Picture', the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had advised the government that the film should be telecast after 11 PM.