The Bombay High Court on Thursday said it would watch ‘Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi’ over the weekend before ruling on a petition filed by the film’s producers against the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The matter will be heard again on August 25.
Filmmakers Resist CBFC Cuts
The petition was moved by Samrat Cinematics India Pvt. Ltd, represented by advocates Ravi Kadam, Satatya Anand, and Nikhil Aradhe. The producers told the court that the CBFC had initially demanded 29 cuts in the film, which its revision committee later reduced to 21.
Unwilling to accept the alterations, the filmmakers approached the court, arguing that the CBFC’s decision unfairly restricted creative freedom.
Court Pulls Up CBFC
Defending the board, advocate Abhay Khandeparkar said the CBFC had acted in line with established procedure and that the petitioners still had statutory remedies available under the Cinematograph Act.
The bench, comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Dr. Neela Gokhale, was not convinced. The judges noted that the court’s jurisdiction could not be ousted simply because alternate remedies exist. They also criticised the CBFC’s approach, observing that the board had failed to uphold natural justice from the very start.
“You should have done this in the beginning. This is an exercise you ought to have done for every film. You have failed to do it,” the bench told the CBFC.
NOC Dispute
The dispute largely stems from the CBFC’s insistence that the filmmakers secure a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, since the film is based on his life.
The producers, however, opposed this condition, arguing that the film is inspired by the book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister and is based on material already in the public domain.
“They are not the guardians of a private person’s fundamental rights,” advocate Kadam argued while rejecting the demand for an NOC.
Release On Hold
The film, originally set for release on August 1, has been stalled in the absence of certification. With the CBFC refusing clearance without cuts and an NOC, and the makers unwilling to concede, the matter is now squarely before the court.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
