Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 11: A committee constituted by the Centre to examine the content of Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj has reportedly recommended that the ban on the film's public access through online streaming platforms should continue, government sources said on Saturday.
According to the sources, the committee concluded that the film allegedly goes against India's sovereignty and integrity and supported the government's decision to block its streaming under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
Directed by Honey Trehan, Satluj portrays the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994. Khalra was abducted and murdered by the Punjab Police in 1995.
The film was removed from OTT platform ZEE5 for Indian viewers two days after its release on July 3, following directions from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which cited security concerns.
Subsequently, the ministry constituted an Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, to conduct a detailed examination of the film and recommend further action.
The issue has triggered political reactions in Punjab, with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) demanding that the ban be revoked, while the Shiromani Akali Dal announced plans to organise public screenings of the film across the state.
Sources said the committee found the government's action under Section 69A of the IT Act to be justified.
Section 69A empowers the government to block online content in the interests of India's sovereignty and integrity, defence, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states and public order.
The committee comprises 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, among others.
According to the sources, the panel observed that the film presents an unbalanced narrative by allegedly portraying militants in a favourable light while focusing extensively on alleged excesses committed by security forces during Punjab's militancy period.
Under Part III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is empowered to invoke Section 69A of the IT Act to regulate OTT content that falls outside the certification framework of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).