Consider Objections Before Giving Clearance Certificate To Movie 'Emergency' : Madhya Pradesh High Court Directs CBFC
Today, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) submitted before the Madya Pradesh High Court that an application for certification of the Kangana Ranaut-starrer movie Emergency is pending consideration and no certificate has yet been issued to the film, which was earlier scheduled to release on September 6.
The Deputy Solicitor General, appearing for the Union of India, categorically submitted before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf that the film had not been certified by the CBFC.
In view of this, the Court, while directing the CBFC to consider the representations moved before it in respect of the film's trailer, following the Act and the rules framed thereunder before granting a certificate to the movie, disposed of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea challenging the impending release of Kangana Ranaut's film Emergency.
The Court refused to pass any other order in the PIL plea as it emphasised that the Board is the competent authority to grant certificates to the film. Since the same was not granted, the Court said there was no point in 'prejudging' the issue.
It may be noted that the PIL petitioners, Jabalpur Sikh Sangat and Guru Singh Sabha Indore, had moved the Court, claiming that the film contains scenes that violate the fundamental rights of the Sikh community.
On Monday, the Division Bench issued notice to the Central Government and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) after the petitioners, represented by Advocate Narinder Pal Singh Ruprah, said that the film's depiction of certain events could mislead and defame the Sikh community.
'Emergency,' is a film set during the 1975 Emergency about former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The film's premiere date had been scheduled for September 6, 2024.
It was the case of the petitioners that the film's depiction of specific historical events, particularly the usage of the term 'Khalistan,' could have negative consequences for the Sikh community. He emphasised that the film's narrative may lead to discrimination and labelling of young Sikh children who wear turbans as 'Khalistanis'.
The petitioners were requesting an unconditional apology from Kangana Ranaut, the film's actor and producer, for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. They contended that the film's portrayal of the Sikh community is not only historically inaccurate but also defamatory.