HC allows 'Bigg Boss' telecast at prime time

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today allowed telecast of popular reality TV show " Bigg Boss" at prime time following an undertaking from the Colors Channel that it will self-censor the contents of the programme.

While permitting to air the show at 9 pm, a bench comprising Justice S J Kathawala and Justice U D Salvi granted liberty to the Ministry of Information and Broadcast (I&B) to move the court without giving a show cause notice to the channel in case there was violation of the undertaking given by them.

Colors gave an undertaking in which they agreed not to violate the rules, self-censor "objectionable scenes and dialogues" and also not to provide clippings of the programme to any news channels henceforth.

Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd had approached the High Court on Saturday after the I&B Ministry once again directed them to shift the show timings from 9 pm to 11 pm as its contents were objectionable and not fit for children.

Senior counsel Shyam Diwan and advocate Ameet Naik, arguing for Viacom18, told the court that they were ready to abide by the undertaking.

Viacom18 gave an undertaking saying that they will not screen any dialogue which is required to be beeped/and or screen any obscene gesture of the participants. Besides, the show is about to end in two weeks time, they said.

After October 4, the channel has not telecast any episode, which, according to the I&B Ministry, had objectionable language or scene, the petitioner contended.