The PIL filed by one Ajay Goswami stated that with the advent of commercialism
and the competition among newspapers to increase their circulation, "numerous
attempts are being made to cater to purient interest of the public at large".
"The newspapers are publishing titillating material in the form of SMS jokes,
articles on pornography, sex education (which at times is more pronography than
education), comments on porn magazines or movies in addition to semi-nude
photographs," the petitioner said and pleaded that there was an urgent need to
protect the minors from their bad influence.
While supporting the the right to freedom of speech and expression enjoyed by
the media, the petitioner said there was an urgent need to frame rules and
regulations to shield minors from these pornographic literature circulated by
newspapers.
"The Union of India and the Press Council of India have failed to frame any
rules and regulations on this aspect," it said and sought a direction for
framing of appropriate Rules and Regulations in this regard.
