The gvernment has lifted the ban on entertainment channel AXN, six weeks after it was penalised for showing 'indecent' programmes, official sources said.

"They (AXN) had submitted the apology for that, which has been accepted. So ban has been lifted," a senior official in Information and Broadcasting Ministry said.

On January 17, the government had prohibited the transmission or re-transmission of the satellite channel with immediate effect, up to March 15 throughout the country. The channel, however, submitted a prompt apology after it was blacked out and the ban was lifted early.

Imposing the ban, the government said channel was guilty of 'telecasting programmes such as Worlds Sexiest Advertisements that are against good taste or decency and are likely to adversely affect public morality.'

The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, empowers the government to 'regulate or prohibit the transmission or re-transmission of a channel on a programme' on all platforms in the name of 'public order, decency, or morality.'