I&B to examine if Colorsused national anthem topromote Bigg Boss

[Am@9]

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High
Court has directed the central
government to take action
within a week against television
channel Colors for using the
national anthem to promote its
reality show `Bigg Boss 6` - the
Indian version of the British
‘Big Brother’ - in cinema halls
across the country.
A division bench of Chief
Justice D. Murugesan and
Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw gave
the directions after hearing a
public interest litigation against
the channel for running a
commercial of the Salman
Khan-hosted show wherein an
audio demanded that all
present in the halls should
"stand up for the national
anthem" as Big Bigg Boss
wanted it.
The judges said: "In the wake
of serious allegations levelled
by the petitioner that the
national anthem is disrespected,
we direct the central
government to treat this PIL as
a representation and the
grievances be dealt with in
accordance with the law."
The court added that
"necessary action would be
taken by the Ministry
concerned against the
respondents within a week".
"The allegations will be looked
into and action will be taken",
Additional Solicitor General
Rajeev Mehra told the Court.
The PIL filed by lawyer
Jeetender Gupta alleged that
Colors has "disrespected" the
national anthem by using it to
promote the realty show in
various PVR multiplexes in the
city as well as in other parts of
the country.
"The Colors channel randomly
displayed an advertisement
inside the movie theatres and
the said advertisement was in
the form of a visual displaying
the logo of its programme
`Bigg Boss 6` followed by an
audio demanding all present in
the hall to stand up for the
national anthem.
"`Bigg boss chahte hain ki aap
rashtriya gaan ke liye khade
hon`, (Bigg boss wants you to
stand for the national anthem)
and then the Indian National
Anthem was played," the
petition stated.
It further added: "The
respondent (TV channel) is
trying to associate itself with
the national anthem solely for
commercial purpose of
promoting its latest TV
programme."
The plea said: "The acts of TV
channel and PVR amount to
possible violations of the
Prevention of Insults to
National Honour Act 1971 and
the Emblems and Names
(prevention of improper use)
Act 1950."
Earlier also the reality show
had run into controversies with
the I&B Ministry asking Colors
to telecast ’Bigg Boss Season 5’
after 11 pm last year when
complaints were received about
violent gestures and
inappropriate language used by
the participants.

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