Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Parliament on July 20, 2023, published the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to further amend the Cinematograph Act, 1952
This shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint
The following has been amended namely: -
• It states that throughout the Cinematograph Act, of 1952 for the letters and word ‘ “UA” certificate’, wherever they occur, the letters and words ‘‘UA’’ Certificate with any UA marker’ shall be substituted.
• In section 2 which states “definitions”
(i) After clause (dd), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:—
‘(ddd) “infringing copy” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in sub-clause (ii) of clause (m) of section 2 of the Copyright Act, 1957;’;
(ii) after clause (h), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:—
‘(i) “UA marker” means an age-based indicator for a film which has received or is intended to receive a ‘‘UA’’ certificate under section 4 and such indicator may be “UA 7+” or “UA 13+” or “UA 16+”
Provided that where the Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to do in the public interest, it may, by an order published in the Official Gazette and for the reasons to be recorded in writing, declare such other indicators.’.
• In section 5A of the principal Act which states “Certification of Films” in sub-section (3), the words “for a period of ten years” shall be omitted.
• In section 6 which states “Revisional Powers of the Central Government”
(a) sub-section (1) shall be omitted;
(b) in sub-section (2), in the opening portion, for the words, brackets, and figure “Without prejudice to the powers conferred on it under sub-section (1)”, the words “Subject to the provisions of this Act” shall be substituted.
• In section 8 which states “Power to make Rules” in sub-section (2), for clause (c), the following clauses shall be substituted, namely:—
“(c) the form and manner of making an application to the Board for a certificate under sub-section (1) of section 4;
(ca) the manner of examination of film under sub-section (2) of section 4;
(cb) the media for exhibition of film and the form and manner of making an application to the Board in this regard under sub-section (3) of section 4;”.
[Notification No. BILL NO. XLVI OF 2023]
