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Smoking scenes in films against public interest, government says
Counsel for the central government told the Delhi High Court on Friday that scenes in films, adverts and television programmes in which characters are depicted as smoking went against the public interest.
- IANS
- Published: 23:27 November 22, 2008
New Delhi: Counsel for the central government told the Delhi High Court on Friday that scenes in films, adverts and television programmes in which characters are depicted as smoking went against the public interest.
Solicitor General P.P. Malhotra and advocate Mukul Gupta argued that people were too easily influenced by the behaviour of their idols. If actors or athletes are seen to be smoking, it is likely that people who look up to them will follow suit, the men said. The argument was put to Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, who has been asked to rule on film-maker Mahesh Bhatt's challenge to the government ban on onscreen smoking.
In a previous hearing, the court delivered a split verdict.
"There have been many instances where people, particularly the youth, have tried to imitate what they see on the screen. In some cases, people have jumped from high buildings because they were trying to imitate what they saw in a film," counsel for the government submitted in support of its argument that on-screen smoking should not be allowed.
Should the government enforce bans on scenes depicting social activities that are against public interest? Or will such a move stifle creativity? Should censor boards be given the freedom to make the final decision?
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