The government today banned Fashion TV for a period of two months beginning April 1. The ministry will consider lifting the ban if the channel agrees to play by the rules set by the Indian Cable Television Networks Regulations Act, 1995.

This is the second time that FTV’s content has come under the scanner. During the previous NDA regime, it just about managed to avert a ban by promising former I&B minister Sushma Swaraj to make its content compatible with Indian sensibilities. This was after a Parliamentary Standing Committee gave an adverse report, which stopped short of demanding a ban.

Now, the Ministry claims FTV has gone back to its old ways and that there have been a large number of complaints against the channel.

But, the Ministry’s order noted that the ban was a direct fallout of a programme called Midnight Hot, in which semi-nude or skimpily clad models are shown sashaying down the ramp. It is not only “against good taste and decency, but also denigrates women and is likely to adversely affect public morality,” ministry noted.

On January 17, AXN, a channel transmitted by Sony Pictures Entertainment, was banned from Indian homes. The ban has, however, been lifted after AXN formally apologised and agreed to clean up its content.