CBFC Certificate Not Challenged: Telangana High Court Refuses To Halt Release Of Film "Razakar: A Silent Genocide Of Hyderabad"

The Telangana High Court has dismissed a PIL challenging the release of movie “Razakar: A Silent Genocide of Hyderabad” noting that the petitioner had failed to challenge the Certificate issued by the Central Board of Film Certification.

“The petitioner in this PIL has not challenged the Certificate issued by the Central Board of Film Certification. Therefore, no effective relief in this writ petition can be granted to the petitioner,” said the bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti.

The bench was dealing with a writ petition filed by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights alleging that the film, set to hit the theatres on 15^th March, "tends to wound religious sentiments".

The writ petition was listed for orders of the Court on office objections.

While passing the order, the bench noted that apart from not challenging the certificate of exhibition itself, the petitioners had not yet watched the movie and thus could not contend that the movie contained any objectionable parts that were capable of contravening the relevant provisions of law.

Furthermore, the bench noted that the movie had been granted an 'A' certificate which implied that only a restricted adult audience was allowed to watch the movie.

“Admittedly, none of the members of the petitioner association have seen the movie. The Central Board of Film Certification in exercise of powers under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, as per the version of the petitioner itself, has certified the film fit for public viewing on 08.02.2024 with 'A' certificate. The movie is set to be released on 15.03.2024.”

With that observation, the petition was disposed of with the liberty to the petitioner to take recourse to such remedy as may be available to it under the law.

Case no.: WP(PIL)SR 8230/2024

Counsel for the petitioner: Advocate Afsar Jahan

Counsel for respondents: B.Narasimha Sharma (Sr), Additional Solicitor General of India, Mahesh Raje GP for home, K.Vivek Reddy (Sr), representing Mr. B.Arjun Reddy

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