The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notices to the chairman of TV channel UTV, team of the reality show "Emotional Atyachar" and two union ministries on a plea seeking a ban on the show due to its "violent and vulgar" content.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Sanjiv Khanna asked all the concerned parties to reply by April 27 on the plea filed by NGO Indraprastha People.

"All the respondents should file their reply by April 27, " the bench said.

The court was hearing the petition seeking cancellation of the channel's licence and to ban the programme "Emotional Atyachar" for content which "mentally affects children, as well as psychologically, by such kind of violent and vulgar" content.

The petitioner had earlier sent a complaint to the information and broadcasting ministry Dec 12, 2010. The same was also sent to the ministry of home affairs Jan 8 this year.

"The said TV programme, which is being shown from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on UTV Bindass channel has been hurting the feelings of viewers, spreading vulgarity and demoting social and moral values in our society, " reads the petition.

The show "tests" the loyalty of a person in a relationship with the help of sting operations.

"A couple came to India from US on the invitation by the channel. The channel instigated the girl to get her partner's loyalty tested. The girl told the channel that she has full faith in her partner, but on the instigation of the channel she agreed, " reads the petition.

The petitioner said that the programme promotes sexual activities among viewers under the guise of loyalty tests.

"The programme is against the right of privacy of citizens and the persons on whom the said programme is based. The programme clearly violates the right to privacy of the individuals on whom the so-called sting operation is being carried out without his permission, " states the petition.