Chennai: The Madras high court has suggested to the Central and Tamil Nadu governments to bring an appropriate legislation to regulate the audiovisual contents of a disturbing nature appearing on YouTube and other networks.
A division bench comprising Justices S. Nagamuthu (since retired) and Anita Sumanth gave the suggestion while closing a Habeas corpus petition filed by the mother of the detenue.
In her HCP, the mother submitted that her minor daughter studying plus 2 in Myladuthurai had been missing since May 26, 2016. On a complaint given by her, 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. 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 were not to be seen. They later surfaced, she added.
On March 21, 2017, when they appeared before the court, the bench enquired her and 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 been influenced by Tam il movies. The police had informed the judges that they had arrested the youth for the offence under the Pocso Act and remanded him to judicial custody. As an interim measure, the judges handed over the custody of the girl to her mother. The judge had also summoned the heads of the censor board. Accordingly, they appeared later.
In its present order, the bench said, “Somehow or the other some of the films escape the eyes of the censor board and they exhibit for public viewing. These kinds of films having the pretence to spoil the young minds undoubtedly tend to cause irreparable damage to the well-being of the children and ultimately the society at large”.
Referring to the counter affidavit of the Central Board of Film Certification that the board strictly implemented the rules, but it was the audiovisual contents of a disturbing nature appearing on the internet was influencing the young minds and the bench suggested the Union and state government bring an appropriate legislation to regulate the same and suggested to the state government to bring an appropriate legislation to regulate publicity materials such as posters and flex boards. Closing the HCP, the bench made absolute the interim orders handing over the custody of the girl to her mother.
