Comedy Central has been banned for six days for “injuring public morality”. As reported by Scroll.in, when the clock strikes 12:01am on November 26, a blank screen will replace Comedy Central on your box-set for the next six days. This because the Delhi High Court on Monday decided that some of the channel's shows “deprave, corrupt and injure the public morality and morals”.
The High Court decided that Stand Up Club and Popcorn were not “suitable for unrestricted public exhibition and children as the same depicted women as a commodity of sex”. Viaocom18, the parent company of Comedy Central decided not to contend the charges levied against these two shows and the channel said that the lapse was was “unintentional”.
In the appeal, Viacom18 had contended that "prohibition of transmission will cause irreparable loss and damage to the appellant. It will also put an end to the popularity and the viability, commercially or otherwise, of the channel.”
Once news of the ban broke, Twitter users had many jokes to make.
The High Court decided that Stand Up Club and Popcorn were not “suitable for unrestricted public exhibition and children as the same depicted women as a commodity of sex”. Viaocom18, the parent company of Comedy Central decided not to contend the charges levied against these two shows and the channel said that the lapse was was “unintentional”.
In the appeal, Viacom18 had contended that "prohibition of transmission will cause irreparable loss and damage to the appellant. It will also put an end to the popularity and the viability, commercially or otherwise, of the channel.”
Once news of the ban broke, Twitter users had many jokes to make.
It's okay, we can just call this country Comedy Central India and everything still makes sense.
— Rohan (@mojorojo) November 25, 2014Proud to have a culture that's amazing, strong, been around for 1000s of years; and yet, sensitive enough to be damaged by Comedy Central.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) November 25, 2014Comedy Central to go off air for 6 days coz they portrayed women as sex objects.Well,for 6 days we'll have to make do with item numbers then
— NumbYaar (@NumbYaar) November 25, 2014Loving the government approved show line up on Comedy Central. pic.twitter.com/d1Ye1W1S2f
— Sahil Shah (@SahilBulla) November 25, 2014I don't care if Comedy Central's off-air for 6 days. The internet is my Comedy Central. And the government can't ban...shit, wait a minute.
— Akshar (@AksharPathak) November 25, 2014Comedy Central to go off-air for shows contrary to 'Indian culture'. Maybe we should also paint clothes on those sculptures at Khajuraho
— The Bad Doctor (@doctoratlarge) November 25, 2014Karnataka blocks TV9, High court blocks Comedy Central.. This country is a Tragicomic central..
— गप्पिस्तान: आकाशवाणी (@GappistanRadio) November 25, 2014Comedy Central banned because it doesn't have funny Gutthi jokes.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) November 25, 2014The guy in charge of writing subtitles for Comedy Central India has FINALLY been relieved of his duties. #SilverLining
— That DeeSee Bugger (@BeingDeeSee) November 25, 2014We live in a country where they ban channels like Comedy Central and expect us to laugh at movies like Humshakals. #TragedyCentral
— GRV (@MildlyClassic) November 25, 2014Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
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