New Delhi: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Thursday asked Netflix to stop streaming Bombay Begums citing inappropriate portrayal of children in the web series.
In a notice to the OTT platform, the apex child rights body asked Netflix to furnish a detailed action report within 24 hours, failing which it said it will be constrained to initiate appropriate legal action.
Objecting to the alleged inappropriate portrayal of children in the series, the commission said the kind of content portrayed in the web series will not only pollute the young minds but may also result in the abuse and exploitation of children.
The commission took action based on a complaint that alleges that the series normalises minors indulging in casual sex and drug abuse.
Also read: ‘OTT Rules Lack Teeth’: SC Grants Amazon Prime Head Protection From Arrest in ‘Tandav’ Row
“Netflix should take extra precaution while streaming any content in respect of the children or for the children and shall also refrain themselves from getting into such things,” the commission said in its notice.
“Therefore, you are directed to look into this matter and immediately stop streaming of this series and furnish a detailed action report within 24 hours, failing which the Commission will be constrained to initiate appropriate action pursuant to the provisions of Section 14 of the CPCR (Commission for Protection of Child Rights) Act, 2005,” the commission said.
The commission noted that it has issued notice to the OTT platform based on complaints it had received from two Twitter handles, according to the Indian Express.
“From normalization of minors indulging in casual sex we now have a web series showing minors having Cocaine. Screen grab from #BombayBegums where a 13 year old is snorting coke as the party she goes to is all about alcohol, drugs,” the Indian Express quoted the first complainant as saying on Twitter.
The second complainant took to Twitter to say: “Dream of school girls is to send selfies with a `developed’ body part to Imran.’’ Taking note of the complaints, NCPCR said that it is of the view that the series “with this type of content will not only pollute the young minds…(it) may also result in abuse and exploitation of children at the hands of perpetrators/offenders.’’
‘Bombay Begums’ delves into the lives of five women from different sections of society who all want different things in life.
(With PTI inputs)