Star Plus gets warning on Sach Ka Saamna

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry today issued a warning to Star Plus for using language that was vulgar, indecent and against good taste and decency in its programme ‘Sach Ka Saamna’ through the questions by presenter Rajeev Khandelwal or the answers by the various personalities on the show.

The Ministry said the channel should keep Indian ethos and culture in mind while formatting programmes, and enjoined upon it to strictly adhere to this guideline.

The warning was issued under the Uplinking Guidelines, the terms and conditions of the permission granted and the provisions of Section 20 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, asking the channel to strictly adhere to the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and Rules framed thereunder.

The Channel had earlier been issued a show cause notice on 22 July for telecast/re-telecast of the programme on 17 July and 21 July as the contents of the programme appeared vulgar, indecent and against good taste and decency. It was observed that the anchor of the above programme sought replies to questions regarding infidelity, incest and other subjects that were not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition, especially keeping in view the Indian ethos and culture.

The questions and replies followed by a polygraph test, resulted in great embarrassment not only to the participants and their families but also to the viewers watching the programme along with their families. The questions appeared offending against good taste and decency; contained obscene words, appeared to malign and slander segments of social, public and moral life of the country and were not found suitable for unrestricted public exhibition.