Madras High Court summons censor board officials

Chennai: Observing that society had been spoiled by exhibition of bad films, the Madras high court has directed the “heads of censor board” to appear before the court on March 27.

Holding poorly censored films for obscenity in films, which in turn had adverse effects on youths, a division bench comprising Justices S.Nagamuthu and Anitha Sumanth gave the above directive.

The bench posted to March 27, further hearing of a Habeas corpus petition filed by Sundararajan. According to Sundararajan, her minor daughter studying XII standard in Myladuthurai had been missing since May 26, 2016. On a complaint given by him, the Myladuthurai police registered a ‘girl missing’ case. They later came to know that she had eloped with a local youth aged 22 years. Inquiry also revealed that he was involved in several criminal cases and his father was also involved in several cases. Police later traced him to Kozhikode on the basis of his mobile phone location. But, when they reached the spot on February 10, 2017, the boy and the girl was not to be seen there. They later surfaced, he added.

When the HCP came up for hearing on Monday, they appeared before the court. When the judges enquired her, they came to know that she was four months pregnant. She also informed the judges that she had eloped with the youth on her own volition, after seeing and being influenced by Tamil films. 

Following this, the bench said, “The heads of censor board are directed to appear before the court on March 27 for the purpose of explaining to the court as to why necessary action should not be taken against the censor board, who are responsible for exhibiting such kind of cinemas involving Pocso Act offences”.