Delhi HC allows telecast of Pati, Patni aur Woh

MUMBAI: The Delhi high court on Tuesday passed an order allowing the telecast of the Indian version of 
BBC's Baby Borrowers on NDTV Imagine - Pati, Patni aur Woh.
The channel had moved the Delhi high court challenging the National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) letter asking the channel to stop its telecast. NCPCR had served a notice to the channel after certain NGOs approached it saying that the infants were being used as commodities on the show.
Counsel for the channel who argued the case said, "The court has restrained the order passed by the NCPCR asking the channel to stop the telecast. NCPCR has been directed to seek more clarification from the channel in the case." It may be recalled that the show's producers moved the Delhi high court against the commission's order stating that it had no jurisdiction to ban a show. "The said order has been clearly in violation of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, because the Act does not give any jurisdiction to the commission to pass orders against citizens," the channel said in its petition to the high court.

Meanwhile, the watchdog of television content, the information and broadcasting ministry, woke up and issued a showcause notice to the channel only after the court order came in favour of the channel. The channel has, however, denied receiving any notice. According to a source, it states that it has been brought to their notice that infants are used on the show and it appears that the infants are being exploited in pursuit of entertainment. It also appears that the babies are being used as commodities. Also, the show's visuals are in bad taste.

It may be noted here that some NGOs had complained to the NCPCR against actor Rakhi Sawant for grumbling about a child given to her.

Shailja Kejriwal, creative head of NDTV Imagine, said, "The court has asked NCPCR to seek clarification from the channel. Children on the show are just allowed to be. Besides there are no lights focusing on them. In fact, the children are pampered on our show and they shot with us only for two days and their parents were there all the time." Parents claim that none of them have taken any money for the show.