Highlights
- The Karnataka High Court ordered emergent notice to the government and the media in connection with a petition filed by Tamil actress Ranjitha challenging the telecast of a video clipping "depicting" her and self-styled godman Nityananda in an obscene act.
- Justice B S Patil, who heard the matter, ordered an injunction to 40 news organisations including print and electronic media. An emergent notice has also been ordered.
- In her petition, Ranjitha submitted that the video clipping telecast on March 2 last year was digitally manipulated.
- She said she was petrified by the operation of TV channels and news organisations, which, she alleged, were telecasting the manipulated clipping of her and Nityananda.
The Karnataka High Court ordered emergent notice to the government and the media inconnection with a petition filed by Tamil actress Ranjithachallenging the telecast of a video clipping "depicting" herand self-styled godman Nityananda in an obscene act.
Justice B S Patil, who heard the matter, ordered aninjunction to 40 news organisations including print andelectronic media. An emergent notice has also been ordered.
In her petition, Ranjitha submitted that the video clipping telecast on March 2 last year was digitally manipulated.
She said she was petrified by the operation of TV channels and news organisations, which, she alleged, were telecasting the manipulated clipping of her and Nityananda.
She submitted that most of the programmes aired on Indian televisions "are not original, but copy of programmes aired in the US, which do not require any check and censorshipin view of the culture there (US)".
Ranjitha, who was present during the proceedings, saidthe respondents were taking advantage of censorship andexploiting viewers and petitioners in general by not adoptingany measures to curb prevention of any such telecast "whichproves that the acts of the said respondents is illegal andunwarranted for".
Ranjitha's counsel Ravi Varma Kumar said respondentshad "crossed all borders of obscenity" and such screening willaffect sensitivity and emotions of people.
"Action of the respondents is in violation ofprovisions of law of land as per Information Technology Act2000 and Indecent Representation of Women Prohibition Act1986," Kumar submitted and sought a direction to prohibit thetelecast of the clipping.
Ranjitha also sought a direction to Information andBroadcasting Ministry to restrain the respondents fromtelecasting obscene clippings and using any image, statements,reference and news pictures or articles of "scandalousintent".