Government told to hear TV channel out on `Bigg Boss` row

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court Wednesday directed the union information and broadcasting ministry to serve a fresh show cause notice to Colors TV channel and give it a hearing over the content and timings of its reality show `Bigg Boss`.

The direction came during the hearing on the ministry`s order last month to the channel to telecast the show after 11 p.m. as it was felt the contents were not fit for family viewing. The channel challenged the ministry`s order in the high court, which imposed a restrain on it. The restrain will continue till the ministry issues a fresh show-cause notice to the channel, a Colors spokesperson said. Late November, following the ministry`s directive that the show should be removed from the prime time slot to after 11 p.m. as it had objectionable content, Colors channel moved the high court. Wednesday`s order was given by a division bench of Justice D.K. Deshmukh and Justice R.Y. Ganoo. The bench directed the ministry to serve a fresh show-cause notice giving details of the alleged objectionable content within 24 hours. After this, the channel would be required to submit its reply within 48 hours to the information and broadcasting secretary, who would also give a personal hearing to the channel. Viewers earlier petitioned the ministry that the contents of the show were not fit for family viewing and it should be removed from prime time to an adult viewing slot between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. "Bigg Boss" features a group of celebrity participants locked up in a house for three months without any access to the outside world, including newspapers or television. IANS