1[4. Examination of films.--(1) Any person desiring to exhibit any film shall make an application to
the Board for a certificate in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The Board may, after examining the film in such manner as may be prescribed,--
(i) sanction the film for unrestricted public exhibition:
Provided that, having regard to any material in the film, if the Board is of the opinion that viewing of such film by any child between seven to eighteen years of age is subject to guidance of parents or lawful guardian, then the Board may sanction the film for unrestricted public exhibition with an endorsement to that effect containing UA marker.
Explanation.--For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that--
(a) the expression "seven" denotes completion of seven years of age and the expression "eighteen" denotes before attaining the age of eighteen years;
(b) an endorsement by the Board shall enable the parents and lawful guardian of the child to consider whether such child should view such a film, and shall not be enforced by any person other than the parents or lawful guardian of the child;
(ii) sanction the film for public exhibition restricted to adults;
(iii) sanction the film for public exhibition restricted to members of any profession or any class of persons having regard to the nature, content and theme of the film;
(iv) direct the applicant to carry out such excisions or modifications in the film as it may deem necessary before sanctioning the film for public exhibition under clauses (i), (ii) and (iii); or
(v) refuse to sanction the film for public exhibition:
Provided that no action under this section shall be taken by the Board, unless the applicant has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter.
(3) Any person desiring to exhibit on television or such other media as may be prescribed, any film which has been sanctioned by the Board under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of sub-section (2), may make an application to the Board in such form and manner as may be prescribed, and the Board may, for this purpose, sanction the film with a separate certificate, after directing the applicant to carry out such excisions or modifications in the film as it may think fit.]
(2) The Board may, after examining the film in such manner as may be prescribed,--
(i) sanction the film for unrestricted public exhibition:
Provided that, having regard to any material in the film, if the Board is of the opinion that viewing of such film by any child between seven to eighteen years of age is subject to guidance of parents or lawful guardian, then the Board may sanction the film for unrestricted public exhibition with an endorsement to that effect containing UA marker.
Explanation.--For the removal of doubts, it is hereby clarified that--
(a) the expression "seven" denotes completion of seven years of age and the expression "eighteen" denotes before attaining the age of eighteen years;
(b) an endorsement by the Board shall enable the parents and lawful guardian of the child to consider whether such child should view such a film, and shall not be enforced by any person other than the parents or lawful guardian of the child;
(ii) sanction the film for public exhibition restricted to adults;
(iii) sanction the film for public exhibition restricted to members of any profession or any class of persons having regard to the nature, content and theme of the film;
(iv) direct the applicant to carry out such excisions or modifications in the film as it may deem necessary before sanctioning the film for public exhibition under clauses (i), (ii) and (iii); or
(v) refuse to sanction the film for public exhibition:
Provided that no action under this section shall be taken by the Board, unless the applicant has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter.
(3) Any person desiring to exhibit on television or such other media as may be prescribed, any film which has been sanctioned by the Board under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of sub-section (2), may make an application to the Board in such form and manner as may be prescribed, and the Board may, for this purpose, sanction the film with a separate certificate, after directing the applicant to carry out such excisions or modifications in the film as it may think fit.]
1. Subs. by Act 12 of 2023, s. 5, for section 4 (w.e.f. 11-8-2023).