Address objections before clearing ‘Emergency’ film for release, Madhya Pradesh HC to censor board
Two Sikh groups challenged the release of the Kangana Ranaut starrer claiming it includes scenes that infringe on their fundamental rights.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Board of Film Certification to consider objections raised against the movie Emergency before clearing it for release, reported Live Law.
Emergency is a Hindi-language film based on the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government in 1975. It stars actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, who is a Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi.
The film certification board told the court on Wednesday that it is yet to clear the movie for release on September 6.
With this in mind, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf disposed of two public interest litigations challenging the movie’s release, stating that there was no point in “prejudging” the matter.
The petitions against the release of the film were moved by two Sikh groups: Jabalpur Sikh Sangat and Guru Singh Sabha Indore. They alleged that the movie included scenes infringing on the fundamental rights of their community.
The petitioners also said that the film’s depiction of historical events and use of the term “Khalistan” could mislead and defame Sikhs.
Khalistan refers to an independent nation for Sikhs that some members of the community seek to carve out of India.
They had requested an unconditional apology from Ranaut, who is also the producer of the movie, for hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community.
The court had on Monday issued notices to the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification on the petitions.
Bombay HC refuses to direct CBFC to issue immediate certification
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday refused to direct the Central Board of Film Certification to clear Emergency for release immediately, The Hindu reported.
A division bench of Justices BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla issued the order while hearing an urgent petition by co-producer Zee Entertainment Enterprises, seeking directions to the film certification board to expedite clearance for the movie.
The petition claimed that the censor board was “arbitrarily” and “illegally” withholding the film’s certification. It claimed that despite being informed of the film’s certification on August 29, the film certification board was yet to provide a formal copy of the approval.
On Wednesday, the bench said it could not pass such a direction as the Madhya Pradesh High Court had ordered it a day earlier to decide on the representations made by the two Sikh groups.
“We know that there is something else happening behind,” the court said. “We don’t want to comment on it. The CBFC [Central Board of Film Certification] shall consider the objections and take a decision by September 18.”
It listed the matter for further hearing on September 19.
