Free expression

Rakesh Shukla, a Supreme Court advocate, has interesting comments to make about morality plays [ Link] It would be no exaggeration to say that 90 per cent of the programmes would fall within the ambit of Section 19 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, which empowers an authorised officer of the rank of sub-divisional magistrate to prohibit any programme or channel not in conformity with the programme code. In addition, Section 16 provides that individuals and companies can be...

Now that we all know Richard Gere's kissing of Shilpa Shetty has fanatics of many hues up in arms, literally and otherwise, it might be worthwhile to jot down who these guardian angels are: A social activist based in East Delhi, Subodh Jain has sought action against Gere for the "obscene act" and Shetty for "encouraging obscenity." The complaint was filed at Manasarovar police station, but no case was registered as the Northeast Delhi police said it did not have the territorial jurisdiction to...

The Sindhi community in Bhopal is nuts. Let's make that politically and legally correct — a section of the community is nuts for sure. A Sindhi girl there by the name of Priyanka Wadhwani fell in love with a Muslim youth called Umar. Since the girl's family was against the match, the two eloped and married. The guardians of Hindu morality (read, RSS and Bajrang Dal) promptly stepped in and said the Muslim man had abducted the girl. A case was filed in due course. The Bombay High Court intervened...

Lost in the din over the FTV ban and the targetting of couples in Mumbai was the Supreme Court judgment quashing the criminal proceedings against American historian and Professor James W Laine. The Maharashtra police had filed an FIR against Laine for “defaming” Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji and "attempting to disturb the communal peace and harmony" through his controversial book, Shivaji, Hindu king in Islamic India. The book was relased in India in 2003, but was withdrawn from circulation...

The disgust over the ban on FTV was expected. What is also expected is the fact that for each, the exact reason for the disgust might be different. Let's have a look at what some had to say. Something from the Times of India (Late-night TV: Too hot for govt to handle?; April 3, 2007) "I am genuinely against censorship," asserts fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar, who has many swimsuit calendars to his credit. "Shooting fashion calendars is an art and they have no business to look down upon it...

So, what goes on before the bureaucrats carry out the politicians' bidding? The Daily News & Analysis (DNA) hazards a guess (Minister for moral values; March 30, 2007 [Link]: This is probably what happens: Dasmunsi and his babus watch all the television channels like hawks, looking for prurient stuff, stuff that will corrupt the morals of the nation. After all, they have been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting those morals and they intend to do their job thoroughly. They therefore...

Here's something that we do not always get to hear: SIDDHARTHNAGAR: Thirteen members of a dance party, who had been seeking votes for an independent candidate from Naugarh assembly constituency by singing alleged "obscene" songs, were arrested, police said on Monday. On the directive of the Election Commission, the videography of the dance performance was done and the lead dancer was arrested with 12 other members. The dance party was seeking votes by singing "derogatory and obscene" songs...

The staff of the Mumbai office of Star News was attacked Monday and its offices ransacked by about 50 activists of the so-called Hindu Rashtriya Sena after it broadcast an interview with a runaway couple – a a teenage Hindu girl and a young Muslim man. “The attack happened Monday evening because of a report that we carried. We have never heard of the group that attacked the office. They call themselves the Hindu Rashtriya Sena. It is difficult to say who they are. It was just a bunch of people...

The police in Mumbai have finally found something constructive to do as far as law and order is concerned — they have started detaining couples cosying up on the seafront. The Bandra police station has been conducting a special drive over the last one week or so rounding up couples for getting to close for comfort in public. Uh, too close? We have been told the exuberant policemen have so far detained close to 100 couples under the Bombay Police Act after receiving complaints from locals. These...

The Assam Assembly has gone one up on fanatics who want dress codes for girls in this country. The Committee of Ethics of the state Assembly has decreed that it is not appropriate for members to wear informal dresses such as jeans, T-shirts and salwar-kameez while attending the House. This committee has even recommended a dress code for members — men should sport formalwear while women should wear ‘traditional’ outfits while attending the House. This panel has conveniently not specified it means...