Madras HC Rejects PIL Against Movie ‘Irumbuthirai’ Allegedly For Spreading Misinformation About Aadhaar And Digital India [Read Order]

The Madras High Court recently dismissed a plea to stop the release of a movie titled Irumbuthirai which allegedly spread misinformation about the Central Government’s policy of Aadhaar card and Digital India.

A bench of Justice V Parthiban and Justice PD Audikesavalu dismissed a PIL filed one N Natarajan who submitted before the court that certain dialogues in the said film are creating a panic situation among the general public that the information given to the various authorities through Aadhaar will be used for any other purposes, which gives a wrong information to the public about the Aadhaar card and there is every likelihood of losing confidence on the Government of India over the policy of Aadhaar card and Digital India.

The bench observed that the petitioner has not stated what are the said comments and as to how they create panic among the general public in regard to the government welfare measures such as Aadhaar card and Digital India initiative.

Referring to a Supreme Court decision, the court observed that once the expert body has given clean chit for exhibition of the film, this court cannot sit over and override the decision of the board at the instance of the petitioner particularly on the basis of his individual perceptions with reference to the contents of the film. Dismissing the PIL, the bench said: ”Admittedly, the petitioner had seen only the trailer of the film and therefore, he cannot have any idea of the total contents and the full theme of the movie and the full context in which the so-called offending dialogues exchanged between the characters.”

Read the Order Here