The Hindu : National : Implementation of ban on smoking scenes may be deferred

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Friday, Sep 23, 2005

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National

Implementation of ban on smoking scenes may be deferred

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry is likely to press for a second postponement of the imposition of the ban on smoking scenes in films and television serials. As of now, the ban is to take effect from October 2.

Already the I&B Ministry has conveyed to the Health Ministry the technical problems in implementing the ban from the stipulated date; particularly with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) expressing reservations about the task at hand. This view was communicated to the Health Secretary at a meeting on Wednesday.

While the Health Ministry is yet to firm up its view after the meeting, highly placed sources in the I&B Ministry said it would push for a postponement. Should the date be deferred, this would be the second postponement, as the Health Ministry had initially wanted the ban to be in place from August 1.

While the two Ministries had agreed to the first postponement after a meeting of the two Ministers in June, I&B Minister S. Jaipal Reddy later announced a further dilution in the conditions imposed by the Health Ministry after content providers complained about the ban coming in the way of creative freedom.

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