PIL filed in Madras High Court to halt telecast of Big Boss

A writ petition has been moved in the Madras High Court praying that the telecast of the television show Big Boss be halted in Tamil Nadu for, inter alia, exhibiting obscene behaviour and hurting community sentiments..The petition pertains to the supposed vulgar exhibition by women contestants and the use of what has been viewed as caste slurs. The petitioner has submitted that the behaviour and dress code of the contestants on air amounts to insulting the dignity of women and has the effect of polluting public mindset. The derogatory use of the term ‘cheri’ by one of the housemates has been claimed to hurt the sentiments of downtrodden sects of society..The petitioner has also raised the issue that the show is inappropriate for children and family audiences. In the absence of any warning as regards such content prior to its airing, it has been argued that the unrestricted broadcast of the show is in violation of Article 19(2) of the Constitution..It has thus been prayed that the Court issue a writ of mandamus to government authorities directing them to restrain the telecast of the show in public interest. The matter is likely to be taken up for hearing on Monday..There seems to be no end to the troubles faced by the Tamil edition of the reality show. Right wing groups such as Hindu Makkal Katchi demanded that the show be cancelled shortly after it began to air for ‘hurting tamil culture’. Dalit party Puthiya Tamizgham filed a 100 crore defamation law suit last month, alleging that the show was encouraging casteist sentiments for TRPs..Recently, it was reported that another organisation had served legal notices to the show’s presenter – actor Kamal Hassan – as well as other channel executives for allowing a contestant to handle the musical instrument, Nadaswaram, in a manner that was insulting and defamatory to certain ethnic communities.. Read the Affidavit of the Writ Petition below..Image taken from here.