Rajya Sabha Passes Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill; More Categories Of Certification, Higher Punishment For Piracy

The Rajya Sabha today passed the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 with voice vote, to amend the Cinematograph Act, 1952. It was introduced in Rajya Sabha on July 20 and now will be sent to Lok Sabha.

The Bill aims to address the issue of film piracy by transmission of unauthorised copies on the internet. It also intends to improve the “procedure for certification of films for public exhibition by the Central Board of Film Certification, as well as to improve the categorisation of the certification of the films.”

Features of the Bill:

• It Substitutes the U/A category with the following three categories based on age: (i) UA 7+, (ii) UA 13+, or (iii) UA 16+.
• It empowers the Board to sanction the film with a separate certificate for its exhibition on television and other media.
• It inserts two new sections 6AA and 6AB relating to “Prohibition of unauthorised recording” and “Prohibition of unauthorised exhibition of films.”
• It also makes “attempt” and “abetment” to make unauthorised recording punishable.
• The above offences will be punishable with: imprisonment between 3 months and 3 years, and a fine between Rs.3 Lakh and 5% of the audited gross production cost.
• It proposes to replace the current 10 years validity period for film certification with perpetual validity.
• The Bill takes away the revisional power of central government in the light of Supreme Court judgement in Union of India v. K.M. Shankarappa.