Girl says films gave her the idea to elope; HC summons censor officials

The Madras High Court on Monday ordered the heads of the Censor Board to appear before it on March 27, saying that poorly censored films are responsible for obscenity in cinema, which is affecting the youths diversely.

“The heads of the Censor Board are directed to appear before the court on March 27 to explain why necessary action should not be taken against the board, which is responsible for exhibition of such cinemas involving POCSO Act offences,” said a bench of Justice S Nagamuthu and Justice Anita Sumanth.

The judges issued the summons as a minor girl, traced in February after eloping with her 22-year-old boyfriend last May, deposed before the court that she had eloped after being influenced by similar episodes in films.

Her father had lodged a complaint on May 16, 2016, that his daughter, studying in class XII in Mayiladuthurai in Nagapattinam district, was missing.

It was later found that she had eloped with a local youth. The police investigation revealed he was involved in several criminal cases in the Mayiladuthurai region.

The police later traced the youth to Kozhikode after tracking his mobile phone’s location, but the police could not find him.