NEW DELHI: After detailed deliberations, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Tuesday issued an order asking Netflix to immediately remove “certain scenes” involving minors and cited to be objectionable from the “Bombay Begums” series and till that happens they must stop streaming of this series on their platform.
The Mumbai Police Commissioner has also been directed to take action with regards to the content in the series cited in the NCPCR order and report back within 7 days.
The NCPCR has also sent a copy of the order to the ministry of information and broadcasting for immediate action and directed that an ATR must be submitted within 3 days.
Accepting the request from Netflix for further extension of time to discuss the matter with their legal time, the NCPCR has given them time till March 18 to reply.
The Commission states in its order that they had received a complaint from two Twitter handles in regard to the series “Bombay Begums” streaming on Netflix, “wherein the children were found to be indulged in snorting drugs and taking indecent pictures and selfies in the classroom”.
“The Commission was of the view that representing, portraying and glorifying children in India in such a manner on any media platform/internet/OTTs etc cannot be tolerated and it should not be allowed. As the series with this type of content would not only pollute the young minds of children, and may also result in abuse and exploitation of children at the hands of perpetrators,” the NCPCR states. Soon after NCPCR directed Netflix on March 12 to stop streaming of the series and sought an action taken report within 24 hours. Netflix sought time till Tuesday.
“In this regard as per the request of Netflix a meeting was convened on Tuesday at the NCPCR office to discuss the issues pertaining to representing and portrayal of children in the series “Bombay Begums,” NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo states in the order.
“After detailed deliberations, the Commission is of the view that these particular scenes are in violation of relevant sections of JJ Act, 2015, POCSO Act 2012 and IPC, 1860 as minor children were used in these scenes. Therefore, Netflix is directed to immediately remove these scenes from the series and meanwhile till the time they come to any decision in this regard, they shall stop the streaming of this series on their platform,” Kanoongo asserts in the order.
“Also in one of the scenes a minor girl was smoking a cigarette, which is a violation of section 77of JJ Act and therefore, the Commission is forwarding this matter to Commissioner of Police, Mumbai for investigation/ inquiry and necessary action,” it is stated.