INTRODUCTION

A petition has been filed in the Punjab & Haryana High Court seeking a ban on further screening of the movie ‘Adipurush’. The plea alleges that the movie hurts the religious sentiments of a “large section of society” due to the kind of dialogues used by the characters in the movie.

The plea seeks directions to the State to initiate legal action against the film makers and collect the revenue earned from the screening of the movie in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh and use it for the beautification of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya or donate it to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education, Chandigarh.

Mahant Ravi Kant, a Mahant and resident of Patiala, has filed the PIL through advocates L.M Gulati, JasneetMehra and Divya Gulati.

The plea states that the petitioner and their followers were “shocked to see the deities being portrayed in a poor state and using foul language,” and they were deeply disturbed to hear about the hurt feelings of a large section of society.

It also alleges that the movie maligns the image of deities by using foul language in the dialogues spoken by the actors portraying Hindu gods. “They cannot be allowed to go scot-free in the name of Freedom of Speech and Expression,” it adds.

The matter Is listed for July 04 for consideration.

Case Title: Mahant Ravi Kant v. Union of India &Ors.

A Public Interest Litigation has beenPIL Against ‘Adipurush’ Movie: Allahabad High Court Issues Notice To CBFC

PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) NO. – 728 OF 2022

KULDEEP TIWARI AND ANOTHER VS. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

QUORUM: CHIEF JUSTICE RAJESH BINDAL AND JUSTICE BRIJ RAJ SINGH

Cinematography Act of 1952

Section 5A  Certification of films.

Section 5B  Principles for guidance in certifying films.

Cinematograph (certification) Rules of 1983

Rule 38       Advertisement of films

 FACTS OF THE CASE

  The Allahabad High Court has issued a notice to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea filed before it seeking an order restraining the board to grant a certificate for the exhibition of the Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan and KritiSanon starrer movie ‘Adipurush’. The movie is set to release in June 2023. filed in the Rajasthan High Court seeking a ban on the movie ‘Adipurush,’ which is based on the Hindu Holy Epic Ramayana. The PIL alleges that the movie hurts religious sentiments, distorts the facts, and mocks Hindu Gods.

A vacation bench comprising Justic” Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Shree Prakash Singh was hearing separate petitions of Kuldeep Tiwari and Naveen Dhawan seeking a ban on the movie.

The court has ordered director Om Raut, producer Bhushan Kumar, dialogue writer ManojMuntashir to appear before it on July 27. It has also directed the central government to constitute a five-member committee to give its view on the film as to whether it had hurt the feelings of the public.

In an order, it also directed the government to review the decision of granting of certificate to the movie.The order was uploaded on the high court’s website late on Friday.

The bench has said the secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and chairman of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) will file their personal affidavits apprising it as to whether the guidelines for certification of the film for public exhibition has been followed in letter and spirit.

The court said in case the requisite affidavits are not filed by the next date, any Class-1 officer, not below the rank of deputy secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as well as any responsible officer of the CBFC will appear in person along with records.

It has also directed the director, the producer and the dialogue writer to file their personal affidavits explaining their bona fide by the next date.

The court said it was restraining itself from passing any interim order or any coercive action against them before having their response on affidavits.

It had last heard the matter on June 28.

LUCKNOW

 The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Tuesday slammed the makers of the film ‘Adipurush’ and asked how the Central Board of Film Certification cleared the film for public viewing. The court observed that such films were putting to test the tolerance of Hindus and added that thankfully the community did not create any law and order situation. The court’s observations, however, were not part of the order.