The Central Board of Film Certification assured the Bombay High Court on Thursday that it will decide within 2 days on the certification applications for a film reportedly based on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s life.
A bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale reprimanded the CBFC for delaying the process and not adhering to the statutory timelines. The court accepted the board’s assurance and disposed of the petition filed by the filmmakers.
Filmmakers Allege Arbitrary Delay By CBFC
The petitioners, from Samrat Cinematics, challenged the CBFC’s “arbitrary and unexplained” delay in certifying the movie Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi, including its teaser, trailer, and promotional song. The plea claimed that despite applying for certification on June 5, 2025, and paying triple the fee under the priority scheme, the CBFC failed to schedule a screening or communicate any decision.
Senior counsel Ravi Kadam told the court the filmmakers had complied with all rules, including paying priority charges, which should have expedited the process. “The petitioner has sought priority clearance and paid three times the amount,” he said.
CBFC Asked For Unnecessary No Objection Certificate
The petition also questioned the board’s demand for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Uttar Pradesh CM’s office, calling it “baseless” and outside legal requirements.
According to the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Certification Rules, 2024, the CBFC must process certification applications within strict timelines—7 days for scrutiny and 15 days for screening. However, the board had taken nearly a month without action. A screening scheduled for July 7 was suddenly canceled without explanation.
The movie, inspired by the book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, is slated for theatrical release on August 1, 2025. The filmmakers seek timely clearance to meet this deadline.
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