Application For Certification Of 'Emergency' Movie Is Pending, Will Ensure No Offensive Content Is Certified: CBFC To Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) today submitted before the Punjab & Haryana High Court that an application for certification of the "Emergency" movie has been received but pending consideration and as of yet no certificate has been issued to the movie.

The CBFC also known as Censor Board is a statutory film-certification body in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India.

ASG Satya Pal Jain appearing for the Union and Censor Board informed the bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal that the board is sensitive to the sentiments of all communities including Sikhs, and "will take all steps to ensure that no content that may offend any community is certified for public exhibition."

Considering the submissions, the Court disposed of the petition.

The plea was filed by two Baptised Sikhs (Amritdhaari Sikhs) alleging that the trailer depicts erroneous historical facts and it is apparent that the movie promotes "hatred towards Sikh community" and "enmity among Hindus and Sikhs."

"That the bare perusal of the trailer of the said "Emergency" Movie would reveal the fact that between the time frame 02:37 to 02:39 minutes, people from Sikh Community have been shown to be firing indiscriminately at people ofHindu Community due to religious discrimination, by stopping a bus...", the petition stated.

It was argued in the plea that the released excerpt of the film "deliberately misrepresents" the character of Sikhs and creates an "anti-Sikh narrative". It was submitted that the movie in question has full potential to "destroy the social fabric of entire nation", particularly Punjab, by hitting at the fraternity and the brotherhood of the Sikh and Hindu Communities.

During the proceeding, ASG Satya Pal Jain also submitted that, "the Board is open to receiving any representations from the petitioner or any other parties and such representation will be considered in accordance with the Cinematograph Act & Rules, before taking a final decision on the issuance of certificate for this movie."

In light of the submissions made, the petition was disposed of.

A detailed order is awaited.

Advocates Imaan Singh Khara and Deepinder Singh Virk for the petitioners.

ASG Satya Pal Jain, Dheeraj Jain Senior panel counsel for union appeared for the CBFC and Centre Government.

Title: Gurinder Singh & Anr. v. UOI & Ors.