Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur on Friday apprised his fellow parliamentarians that proposed amendments to the Cinematograph Act had not been finalized and were more aimed at streamlining the process of film certification and not targeting freedom of speech.

Asked by several Members of Parliament in Lok Sabha (Lower House) whether the Cinematograph Act , though legislated in the 1950s, was being amended to give powers to the government to overturn certification awarded by India’s film certification board or CBFC, Thakur clarified, “A review of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 was undertaken in the Ministry to address various issues concerning the certification process and film piracy. The proposal to amend the Act is at consultation stage and no final view has been formed.”

Quizzed further by MPs whether the government proposed to create a new body to recall films and what could be the role of Central Board of Film Certification in the proposed scenario, the Minister denied any such move.

“There is no proposal to create a new body or an independent agency for recalling films and CBFC will continue to perform its mandate of certifying films. The Government is committed to the right to freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in the Indian Constitution,” Thakur explained.