Government bans ULLU, ALTBalaji, other OTT platforms over obscene content
The action is part of an ongoing effort to regulate digital platforms and prevent the circulation of explicit material online.
This is not the first time these platforms have come under scrutiny, in April this year, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and major digital platforms in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against the streaming of sexually explicit content on OTT and social media platforms.
The notice was served to the Centre, Netflix, Amazon Prime, ULLU, ALTT, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and others.
According to news agency PTI, the bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih acknowledged that the petition raised a significant concern but emphasised that the matter fell under the purview of the executive or the legislature.
"It's not our domain, you do something," the Supreme Court observed, as quoted by PTI.
NCW, political leaders flag ULLU series
In May, OTT platform ULLU came under fire after a clip from its web series House Arrest, hosted by former Bigg Boss contestant Ajaz Khan, went viral for its allegedly vulgar content.
Several leaders condemned the video, including Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, she wrote on X, 'I have raised this in the standing committee that apps such as this, namely, Ullu App and Alt Balaji have managed to escape the ban by I&B ministry on apps for obscene content. I am still awaiting their reply.'
Soon after the outrage, the National Commission for Women (NCW) also took suo moto cognizance of the series, criticising its portrayal of women and warning of possible regulatory action, including a complete ban.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
SC sets aside HC order granting anticipatory bail on condition to resume conjugal life
New Delhi, The Supreme Court has set aside an order of the Jharkhand High Court which granted anticipatory bail to a man on a condition that he would resume conjugal life with his wife and maintain her with dignity and honour. SC sets aside HC order granting anticipatory bail on condition to resume conjugal life A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih noted that the man was an accused in a case registered under various sections of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code and under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. "While considering the application for pre-arrest bail of the appellant, the court ought to have assessed whether the discretionary relief sought by the appellant for pre-arrest bail deserved to be granted within the settled parameters… but a condition such as the one impugned before us ought not to have been imposed in view of several decisions of this court," the bench said in its July 29 order. It said the high court should have considered the prayer for pre-arrest bail entirely on its own merit instead of imposing a condition, which is not traceable to section 438 of the erstwhile Code of Criminal Procedure. The apex court passed the order on a plea challenging a February 2025 order of the high court which had granted the prayer for pre-arrest bail on condition that the man resumes conjugal life with his wife and maintains her with dignity and honour as his lawful wife. During the hearing before the top court, the counsel appearing for the woman said the man, together with her, had jointly submitted before the high court that he was willing to resume his conjugal life. The lawyer contended that the man cannot now turn around and take a different stand. The bench said the counsel was partly right in the sense that the man had indeed agreed to resume conjugal life. "However, the respondent no.2 insisted for imposition of a further condition to which we do not find the appellant to have agreed. The spouses seemingly, at one point of time, had drifted apart and resided separately for some time. Imposing a condition that the appellant would maintain the respondent no.2 with dignity and honour is beset with risk in that it can generate further litigation," the bench said. It said an application for cancellation of bail on the ground that such condition has not been complied with, if filed later, is bound to meet opposition from the man and could place the high court in further difficulty. "The impugned judgment and order, accordingly, stands set aside. The appeal is allowed," the bench said. It restored the anticipatory bail application on the file of the high court and asked it to decide it afresh on its own merits, as early as possible. The bench said till such time the matter is decided finally by the high court, the interim protection granted to the man by the top court earlier would continue. In its interim direction passed earlier, the top court had said the man be not arrested in connection with the case subject to his joining investigation as and when called upon to do so by the investigating officer. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Jharkhand HC orders attachment of Panem Coal Mines' property for ₹118 cr of unpaid royalty
Ranchi, The Jharkhand High Court has directed authorities to initiate immediate attachment proceedings against Panem Coal Mines for non-payment of royalty dues amounting to ₹118 crore. The court issued strong instructions to ensure the execution of the earlier attachment order that had remained unimplemented. A division bench led by Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Friday, also instructed the Superintendent of Police of West Bardhaman district in West Bengal to cooperate with the Jharkhand Police in executing the property attachment. During the hearing, it was revealed that despite a warrant being issued and an attachment order given by the Certificate Officer of Dumka district, no effective action had been taken against Panem Coal Mines. The court expressed concern over the inaction and directed strict compliance. Panem Coal Mines is a joint venture between the Punjab State Electricity Board and a private company based in Kolkata. The company was granted mining leases by the Jharkhand government for operations in Dumka and Pakur districts. However, it is alleged that Panem violated lease terms by mining beyond permissible limits, resulting in a loss of over ₹100 crore to the state exchequer. Following complaints by local residents and civil society organisations, a government investigation was conducted, which confirmed the violations and the consequent revenue loss due to illegal mining activities . Despite these findings, the state government has reportedly not taken any decisive punitive action against the company so far. Advocate Ram Subhag Singh, who filed the PIL, informed the court that the company had failed to provide rehabilitation or basic amenities to the affected villagers. He also raised concerns about environmental degradation in the mining zones and the growing resentment among the local population due to official apathy. The High Court scheduled the next hearing for August 11
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Bombay High Court gets new bench at Kolhapur; sittings from August 18
The Bombay High Court will get a new bench at Kolhapur district in western Maharashtra , which will be the fourth HC bench in the state, and its sittings will commence from August 18. A notification in this regard was issued on Friday by High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Operations Management CXO Cybersecurity Others Leadership Artificial Intelligence Product Management healthcare Data Science Healthcare Data Analytics MCA Degree Management Design Thinking Digital Marketing PGDM others Project Management Public Policy Finance MBA Technology Data Science Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details "I, Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice of the High Court at Bombay, with the approval of the Governor of Maharashtra, appoint Kolhapur as a place at which Judges and Division Courts of the High Court may also sit, with effect from August 18, 2025," the notification said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold 2022 Cars Now Almost Free - Prices May Surprise You Unsold Cars | Search Ads Learn More Undo As per officials, a roster of how many judges would be sitting at the Kolhapur bench, which is likely to cover half a dozen districts, would be prepared next week. At present, apart from the principal bench in Mumbai, the high court has two more benches -- at Nagpur in eastern Maharashtra and Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) in the central region of the state. Live Events A third bench of the high court sits in adjoining Goa. The notification comes amid demands from various quarters over the years for a bench at Kolhapur so as to ease the burden on litigants and lawyers who have to travel to Mumbai, around 380km away, for hearing of their pleas. The new bench is likely to have jurisdiction over six districts - Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg (last two located in coastal Konkan region). Chief Justice of India B R Gavai had earlier this month also supported the demands for a HC bench at Kolhapur. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted the notification published in an official gazette on social media platform X and noted the decision to set up the bench at Kolhapur will bring much-needed relief to litigants and legal professionals in the region. Terming it a "historic development," the CM expressed his delight at the decision, stating the matter had been under active consideration since the beginning of his tenure. "It was a long-standing demand of the people, and I had been pursuing it consistently. I am extremely delighted it has now succeeded," said Fadnavis, who also handles the law and judiciary portfolio. The CM extended his gratitude to CJI Gavai and HC Chief Justice Aradhe for their support in enabling the setting up of the new bench. "This will make justice more accessible and efficient, while saving citizens' time, effort, and money," he added, congratulating the people and legal fraternity of the region.
