Court accepts NDTV plea against child rights panel

New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has said that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has no power to stay the telecast of a TV reality show without completing an inquiry.

Justice S. Muralidhar in an order passed last week said: 'NCPCR cannot on its own pass any directions without first completing the inquiry. Thereafter it can make recommendations to the government for initiation of proceedings against the concerned person.'

The court was disposing a case filed by NDTV Imagine challenging the powers of NCPCR that stayed the telecast of its reality show 'Pati Patni Aur Woh'. The stay was later lifted by the court.

The show went on air Sep 28 last year. The channel immediately faced the ire of NCPCR, an autonomous body that alleged that the show exploited children.

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.