‘Pati Patni aur Woh’ to stay, rules court
By IANSTuesday, October 6, 2009
NEW DELHI - NDTV Imagine’s reality show “Pati Patni Aur Woh” will continue to air, the Delhi High Court ruled Tuesday seeking an explanation from the national child rights panel as to why the show should be banned.
Justice Sanjeev Khanna allowed the screening of the show and issued a notice to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) as to why they want to ban the show.
On Sep 30, NCPCR had in its order said that the show violates child rights and should be stopped with immediate effect.
The court also directed the commission to complete its investigation expeditiously and prepare the final report.
Senior advocate Rajiv Nayyar appearing for NDTV Imagine contended before the court that NCPCR had no authority to pass any order.
“The commission can only hold an inquiry into the matter and can send their recommendations to the courts but cannot issue any order,” Nayyar said.
The court will further hear the matter Dec 18.
Modelled on international reality show “Baby Borrowers”, “Pati Patni Aur Woh” is about parenting - from living the life of an eight-month pregnant woman to taking care of an infant, a toddler, and a teenager for four days each.
The show went on air Sep 28 and the channel immediately faced the ire of the NCPCR, an autonomous body, that alleged that the show was “exploiting children”. It also sent a notice to the channel Oct 1 to stop the show.
