MHA sets norms for film shooting in jails

In the aftermath of imposition of a ban on BBC’s documentary on Nirbhaya gang-rape titled India’s Daughter, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new guidelines for visitors entering prisons for shooting documentaries or conducting research for their articles.According to the new guidelines issued on Friday, the visitors will have to give a prior notice to the State or prison authorities for entering the prisons. While the notice needs to be given 30 to 60 days in advance for shooting documentaries depending on the domicile of the visitor; for a print article, the notice needs to be served at least seven days in advance. 

“For an Indian visitor to jail, the person must submit an application to the State or prison authority at least 30 days before the date of visit. Foreigners must submit such application 60 days before. In case of article by print media, the application may be submitted seven days before,” stated the new guidelines. 

Apart from that, the visitors will also have to keep a sum of Rs1 lakh as security with the jail superintendent which will be forfeited, apart from initiation of legal action, in case of violations of rules by the visitor. 

Not only that, in case of any application received for shooting documentaries or publishing articles by any filmmaker, NGO or Press, the State Government will also need to consult the local unit of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Ministry of External Affairs or Foreigners Division of MHA.The move comes after lapses on the part of Tihar and Home Ministry official while granting permission to documentary maker leslee Udwin. The documentary was later banned by the Government in March and an inquiry was ordered by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.