AMN
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has urged the Union Government to withdraw the proposed amendment to Cinematograph Act, 1952 and also allow for functional autonomy of the CBFC.
In a letter to Union Minister of law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad, Mr Stalin pointed out that the draft bill had given rise to serious apprehensions not only in the minds of the film fraternity and industry, but also among all sections of the society that cherish freedom of expression. He said that the amendment sought to restore the revisionary powers of the Union Government that was struck down by the Supreme Court two decades ago.
Explaining the existing powers and guidelines of the Act, the Chief Minister said that any film which is certified for public viewing by the CBFC falls within the domain of the State Governments first and hence it must be left to the states as the law and order was a state subject. He reiterated that the proposed act went against the spirit of cooperative federalism and transgressed the powers of the State Governments and Central Board of Film Certification.