I&B to overrule law ministry suggestion

New Delhi: Seemingly in a bid to maintain its stranglehold over the cinema sector across the country, the Union information and broadcasting minister has decided to overrule the law ministry suggestion that theatre owners should not be forced to show censor certification ahead of advertisements aired by them during movie shows.

The move comes despite the Union law and justice ministry giving its clearance to the easing of advertisement policy in cinema halls, under the Narendra Modi government’s much-touted ease of doing business.

The information and broadcasting ministry is not favourably inclined and is understood to have rejected the suggestion.

Sources stated that in a bid to protect its turf, the I&B ministry has rejected the law ministry’s suggestion on easing of advertisement norms in cinema halls across the country.

As per current regulations, all advertisements which run ahead of or during a film show in cinemas across the country need to be cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification.