In a first of its kind, a TV serial has been banned based on charges filed by rightgroups in Assam. The Assam Police has ordered a two-month ban on an Assamese TV serial called “Begum Jaan”, accepting that it had “outraged the religious sentiment of a certain section of society”.
In an order dated 24 August, Guwahati Commissioner of Police Munna Prasad Gupta wrote to Rengoni TV, informing the channel of the ban under the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995.
“The gist of (the) allegation is that the serial Begum Jaan has hurt the religious sentiments of certain sections of the society and the serial contains visuals or words contemptuous and defamatory of a particular religion and section of society and is likely to encourage or incite violence,” Gupta wrote in his order.
The order further said that the complaints were placed before a district-level monitoring committee under the Cable Act.
“The Committee after due deliberation and viewing the video clips of the serial Begum Jaan has opined with an overwhelming majority that the aforesaid serial is in violation of Programme Code as laid down in Rule 6 of the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994…The Committee with an overwhelming majority has come to a conclusion that the said serial has outraged the religious sentiment of certain section of the society which may lead to a breach of peace and tranquillity in the society unless the telecast of the serial is stopped with immediate effect.”
The Rengoni TV channel had been issued a showcause notice and a response is being sought within a month, Gupta informed the media. The Guwahati Police Commissioner, in his order, invoked Section 19 of Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 which deals with “Power to prohibit transmission of certain programmes in public interest”.
Complaints against “Begum Jaan” had been registered by the right-wing Hindu Jagaran Manch, All Assam Brahmin Youth Council, United Trust of Assam, and an individual named Gunajit Adhikary.
