NEW DELHI: The Centre plans to refer the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj to an Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, for a detailed examination and to decide the future course of action, government sources said on Tuesday. The move comes two days after streaming platform ZEE5 was directed to remove the film over “security concerns”.The film, originally titled Punjab ’95, is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and is set against the backdrop of Punjab’s militancy-hit 1990s. After remaining stuck with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for more than three years, it was released uncut on ZEE5 as Satluj on July 3 before being taken down on July 5.According to sources, the matter will now be examined by the IDC, a panel constituted under the IT Rules, 2021, to consider grievances related to content published by OTT platforms and digital news publishers and recommend action to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.The committee includes representatives from the ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Home Affairs, Electronics and Information Technology, Women and Child Development, External Affairs, Defence, and Law and Justice, along with other ministries and domain experts as required.Based on its findings, the IDC may recommend measures ranging from warnings, apologies or disclaimers, and reclassification or modification of content to deletion or blocking under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.Unlike theatrical releases, OTT content is not regulated by the CBFC and falls under Part III of the IT Rules, 2021. The rules require publishers to follow a Code of Ethics that mandates caution while publishing content affecting India’s sovereignty and integrity, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign countries, or public order.However, the operation of the Code of Ethics was stayed by the Bombay High Court in 2021. The Madras High Court later clarified that the stay would apply across India.The IT Rules also contain an emergency provision under Rule 16, which allows an authorised officer to examine content in urgent cases where delay is not acceptable. If the officer determines that the content falls within the grounds specified under Section 69A(1) of the Information Technology Act, a written recommendation can be sent to the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, seeking blocking of the content.Section 69A empowers the government to block online content on grounds including India’s sovereignty and integrity, defence, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, and public order.Government sources had on Monday said ZEE5 was directed to remove the film after authorities learnt that it had been released under the title Satluj without incorporating the cuts proposed by the CBFC when the makers sought certification for a theatrical release as Punjab 95 in 2022.“They kept sitting on the suggested cuts and eventually released the movie quietly on OTT with a new title. OTT does not come under the CBFC’s jurisdiction. When the matter came to the government’s notice, ZEE5 was asked to take it down.“The direction was given due to security concerns. The OTT platform was asked to follow the obligations under intermediary guidelines. If they want to release the film in theatres and OTT, they should follow the laid down norms,” an official had told PTI.Directed by Honey Trehan, the film chronicles the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994. Khalra was abducted in 1995 and was never seen again.In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted for his abduction and murder and sentenced to seven years in prison. Two years later, the Punjab and Haryana High Court enhanced their sentence to life imprisonment.
