The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Censor Board chairperson denies being dismissed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 11, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Censor Board chairperson denies being dismissed

Staff Reporter

Accuses vested interests of launching defamation campaign against her

BANGALORE: The Chairperson of the Regional Censor Board of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Shanta P. Halagi, has refuted reports in a section of the press that she has been removed from the post on corruption charges.

Speaking to presspersons here on Friday, she blamed the Regional Officer in the State for the newspaper reports.

Dr. Halagi, a political activist, said that right from April 21, 2005, the day she began officiating as Chairperson of the regional board, the Regional Officer was found to be taking unilateral decisions regarding certification of films for public viewing. He did not consult her claiming that she used to be away in Dharwad. He obtained the signature of the authorities concerned only after the release of films in violation of CBFC norms. He sent files to her only for post-facto signature months after the release of the films. "Therefore, there is no question of my demanding bribes or gifts from filmmakers" as alleged, she said.

`I remain chairperson'

Asserting that she continues to be the Chairperson of the Regional Censor Board, Dr. Halagi said some vested interests are attempting to demoralise and defame her as "I belong to the underprivileged section of society and hail from a rural area."

The Union Government selected her to chair the regional board considering of her sound academic background and her involvement in social services. "Vested interests in the regional office of the CBFC successfully planted stories in some newspapers that the Centre has removed me from the CBFC." But she has not received any such communication from the authorities concerned, Dr. Halagi said.

Film producers and directors generally interact only with the officers concerned and not with the Chairperson of the Censor Board. The post of chairperson is not an office of profit. It is only honorary service to the CBFC.

A Regional Censor Board chairperson exercises his or her social and moral responsibilities in issuing certificate to films through the official concerned, in good faith. But, sometimes, persons like her are bound to fall victim to the sinister designs of unethical persons, she said.

Releases letter

She released a letter she wrote to the Regional Officer on November 21, 2005 pointing out that many things were not right in the Regional Censor Board office. The letter warned the official concerned, who had placed 99 files before her for post-facto approval, about the legal consequences of issuing censor certificates illegally and asked him to take corrective steps.

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