Delhi HC To Watch 'Gunjan Saxena' Movie To Decide Plea Alleging Wrongful Portrayal Of Air Force

The Single Bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher further said that artistic expression cannot be put into a box just because a certain section doesn't agree with it.

The court said:

'There are talks on gender bias in the judiciary, about not having adequate female judges on the Bench. Courts might agree or disagree with this view, but it won't proceed to curb that view.'

The decision to watch the movie has come in a plea moved by the Central Government against Dharma Productions claiming that the movie "Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl" portrays Indian Air Force in a bad light by depicting its officers as misogynists.

Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain argued that the title of the movie clearly suggests that the movie is supposed to be the biopic of Gunjan Saxena.

ASG further argued that putting the disclaimer in the beginning of the film is not enough to set-off the defamatory depiction of the Indian Air Force Officers in the film. He argued:

'Gunjan Saxena clearly states in her affidavit that she was not given an opportunity to raise objections regarding the content of the film. She also clarifies that there were no arm-wrestling bouts between her and the male officers at the Academy.'

While claiming that the movie sends out an incorrect and maligning image of the Indian Air Force, ASG argued that the defamatory scenes shall be removed from the film.

Appearing for the Dharma Productions, Senior Advocate Harish Salve informed the court that the contentions raised by the Centre are only there in the script and were not made part of the actual film.

Mr Salve further contended that the movie's message, if seen in totality, is about gender equality and not about the misogyny of the Indian Air Force.

'We strongly recommend the Bench to watch the film before deciding upon the contentions raised in this petition', Mr Salve argued.

While agreeing to watch the film, the court also suggested all the parties to meet and try to amicably come up with a solution.