CHENNAI: Calling for a powerful "moral guardian for the society'', the Madras high court on Thursday ruled in favour of stringent censorship to vet TV programmes that contain violence, obscenity and vulgarity.
Justice R Regupathi, quashing defamation proceedings initiated against actor Vijay in various courts of Tamil Nadu, observed: "The most dangerous trend is, there are certain channels which exclusively air music and fashion programmes with semi-nudity and adult content, and school-going children, who have free access to remotes, get to view such channels. Their character and psychology is hardened at a tender age...and it is feared that good behaviour, human values and moral standards would be stripped away forever.''
He was passing orders on petitions filed by Vijay, producer of 'Sivakasi' AM Rathinam and its director Perarasu, who sought quashing of over a dozen defamation proceedings initiated by advocates in different courts. Advocates, represented by S Prabakaran, claimed the film "scornfully ridiculed'' the legal profession. During hearings, the crew apologised for the scenes and said objectionable portions had been deleted.
Recording the apology, the judge quashed the complaints, but with an observation: "The film industry too has social and moral responsibilities... Of late, it is irritating to note that corruptive, pointless and irresponsible messages are being conveyed through movies in the name of entertainment.''
