What is in news : I&B ministry seeks public comments on proposed amendments to Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 by 2 July

Provisions :

The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 proposes

• To penalise film piracy with a jail term and fine, introduce age-based certification, and empower the central government to order recertification of an already certified film following receipt of complaints
• process of sanctioning of films for exhibition more effective, in tune with the changing times and curb the menace of piracy
• provisions relating to certification of films under ‘unrestricted public exhibition’ category are proposed to be amended so as to further sub-divide the existing UA category into age-based categories such as U/A 7+, U/A 13+ and U/A 16+
• grant revisionary powers to the government on account of violation of Section 5B (1) (principles for guidance in certifying films) of the Act.
• receipt of any references by the Central Government in respect of a film certified for public exhibition, on account of violation of Section 5B(1) of the Act, the Central Government may, if it considers it necessary so to do, direct the Chairman of the Board to re-examine the film
• Notwithstanding any law for the time being in force, no person shall, without the written authorization of the author, be permitted to use any audio-visual recording device in a place to knowingly make or transmit or attempt to make or transmit or abet the making or transmission of a copy of a film or a part thereof

Other details :

• The Standing Committee on Information Technology (2019-20) presented the Ninth Report on Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha on March 16, 2020. The observations and recommendations made by the committee in the report have been examined and it is proposed to suitably revise the clauses in the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 based on the recommendations.
• An expert committee under the chairmanship of Justice (retired) Mukul Mudgal was constituted in 2013 to examine the issues of certification under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
• Another committee of experts was set up under the chairmanship of Shyam Benegal in 2016 to evolve broad guidelines for certification within the ambit of the Cinematograph Act and Rules.