A New Pair of Scissors: The Draft Cinematograph Bill 2010

By Anjali Monteiro , K P Jayasankar

The draft Cinematograph Bill, 2010 does not question the simplistic
understanding of the media regarding censorship, nor is there any
recognition of the fact that the modes of production and consumption
of the media are no longer easily amenable to centralised control.
This notion of censorship is inherently elitist, premised on the
superior wisdom of the privileged few, including the members of the
Central Board of Film Certification. There is no clear procedure or
set of norms laid down for the selection of these guardians of decency
and morality, either in the Cinematograph Act of 1952 or in the draft
bill.