Ban children from reality shows: SHRC

The State Human Rights Commission on Saturday imposed a blanket ban on reality shows involving children below  the age of 18 years being conducted by television channels.

Reacting strongly on the conduct of  reality shows the SRHC chairman said such shows subject children to a lot of pressure, both physical and mental during. he also directed the government to immediately ban the TV shows and initiate action against sponsoring companies also.

In the judgment, the chairman opined that in the name of reality shows, the channels were violating the rights of children.

Justice Reddy asked the channel broadcasting Aata juniors reality show to immediately abandon it. He said the children were being made to dance for club songs of films and item songs which are obscene. Besides, these girls are paired with men between 18 and 25 years. The shows are in violation of the Cable Network Act 1994 and Information Technology Act 2000, he said . These legal provisions ban denigration of children in such programmes.

The children are encouraged to continue the show even if they are hurt, ill or doing dangerous feats which may cause them injuries. All these acts are gross violation of "Child Labour Act" and other Acts affecting rights of children, he added.