What Led to the Controversial Removal of Diljit Dosanjh's Film 'Satluj' from ZEE5?
Government Scrutiny on 'Satluj'
New Delhi: The Indian government is set to refer the film Satluj, featuring Diljit Dosanjh, to an Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) for a thorough review and potential actions, as reported by government insiders on Tuesday. This decision follows the recent directive for streaming service ZEE5 to remove the film due to 'security concerns'.
Originally titled Punjab 95, the film chronicles the life of activist Jaswant Singh Khalra during the tumultuous 1990s in Punjab, a period marked by terrorism. After facing censorship delays for over three years, it was finally released uncut on ZEE5 on July 3, only to be taken down two days later.
The IDC, established under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules of 2021, will assess complaints regarding content from OTT platforms and digital news outlets, providing recommendations to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
This committee includes representatives from various ministries such as Information and Broadcasting, Home Affairs, and Defence, along with domain experts appointed by the government.
The IDC has the authority to suggest various actions, including issuing warnings, requiring apologies or disclaimers, modifying content classifications, or even blocking content under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act if deemed necessary.
Content on OTT platforms is not subject to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and is instead governed by Part III of the IT Rules, 2021.
These regulations mandate a Code of Ethics that obligates publishers to be cautious when releasing content that could impact India's sovereignty, security, or public order. However, the Bombay High Court had previously stayed the implementation of this Code in 2021, with the Madras High Court later confirming that the stay applies nationwide.
Despite this, the rules include an emergency clause. Rule 16 allows an authorized officer to review content in urgent situations and determine if it meets the criteria for blocking under Section 69A(1) of the Information Technology Act.
If the officer concludes that blocking is justified, they can recommend this action to the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Section 69A grants the government the power to restrict online content based on factors such as national security and public order.
On Monday, government sources indicated that ZEE5 was instructed to remove Satluj after it was discovered that the film had been released without the cuts mandated by the CBFC when it sought certification for its theatrical release as Punjab 95 in 2022.
"They delayed addressing the suggested cuts and subsequently released the film quietly on OTT with a new title. Since OTT platforms are not under CBFC's jurisdiction, the government intervened once it became aware of the situation," an official stated.
"The removal was prompted by security concerns, and the OTT platform was reminded to adhere to intermediary guidelines. If they wish to release the film in theaters and on OTT, they must comply with established regulations," the official added.
Directed by Honey Trehan, the film portrays the story of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab from 1984 to 1994. Khalra was abducted in 1995 and has not been seen since.
In 2005, four Punjab Police officers were convicted for his abduction and murder, receiving a seven-year prison sentence. This was later increased to life imprisonment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court two years later.