The Madras High Court has come down on film censors following a minor girl’s claim that chanced upon the idea of eloping after viewing some ‘impressive’ scenes in movies.

The HC has asked the ‘heads of censor boards’ to be present before it on March 27, as per a report by A Subramani in The Times of India.

“They are directed to appear before the court on March 27 for the purpose of explaining to the court as to why necessary action should not be taken against the censor board who are responsible for exhibiting such kind of cinemas involving Pocso Act offences,“ said a division bench of Justice S Nagamuthu and Justice Anita Sumanth on Monday.

The girl is a class 12 student of a school in Mayiladuthurai and eloped with her boyfriend in May 2016. Her father filed a missing complaint on May 26, 2016 and

she was only traced in February this year. The girl was also found to be four months pregnant, the report says.

The girl had eloped with 22-year-old Vimalraj who lived in the same locality. An inquiry revealed that Vimalraj had been involved in several criminal cases in Myladuthurai region, the report adds.

Responding to a habeas corpus petition that was filed against her, the girl told the court that she ran away of her own will after being influenced by Tamil films.

The court further observed that exhibition of bad films was having a negative impact on society, the report says.