Big Boss: HC directs IB ministry to give hearing to Colors

Big Boss: HC directs IB ministry to give hearing to Colors

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to give a fresh show-cause notice, and a hearing to the Colors channel which airs reality show 'Big Boss'.

The earlier stay to the ministry's directive - that the reality show be aired after 11 pm - will continue till the ministry passes a new order.

Last month, the channel dragged the ministry to High Court after latter directed it to change the time slot of broadcast, from prime time to beyond 11 pm, on the ground that the show had objectionable content, unfit for children.

High Court had then stayed this order.

On Wednesday, division bench of Justices D K Deshmukh and R Y Ganoo directed ministry to give a fresh show cause notice, pointing out the allegedly objectionable programmes or portions of programmes within 24 hours.

The channel will submit its reply to secretary, I and B ministry, within 48 hours thereafter.

The secretary will give personal hearing to the channel's representatives.

After that, the ministry will pass a fresh order, and if it is adverse, the current stay by the High Court will continue for another day, High Court said.

The division bench, while disposing of the petition on Wednesday, remarked that the ministry ought to have heard the channel before asking it to change the programme time. 

"In our petition to the honourable court, we had asked to be given a fair hearing by the I&B Ministry to understand their viewpoint, and accordingly, clarify our stand on the Ministry's objection to Bigg Boss," Colors said in a statement in Mumbai.

"The court has asked the Ministry to serve us a show-cause notice on this matter and give us an opportunity to present our viewpoint on the same," the private TV channel said.