Is there any law which permits porn actors like Sunny Leone to perform in India?
30 Apr, 2013Background
Two appellants filed three applications under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) seeking information only about the method of certification of films, their screening in theatres, and educational qualification of the chairperson and the members of the CBFC. They also wanted to know about the specific law which allowed porn actors like Sunny Leone to perform in India. The Public Information Officer (PIO) provided some information and for the rest, he informed the appellant that the information does not exist.
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The Central Information Commission (CIC) observed that most of the queries did not qualify for information within the meaning of section 2(f) “information” means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force; of the RTI Act being clearly in the nature of seeking the comments of the PIO on the views of the information seeker. The Commission held that the PIO cannot offer any opinion on the queries like, likely effect of films on the viewers or whether the movies in the recent times had been affecting the local culture and the moral of the people. The CIC rejected the appeal stating that the PIO has already provided whatever information was available with the CBFC.
Citation: Mr. Jigar Desai v. Central Board of Film Certification, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in File No. CIC/SM/A/2012/001728, 1729 & 1730
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2013/CIC/1236
Click here to view original RTI order of Court / Information Commission