Bombay High Court Judges To Watch Film 'Ajey' Before Deciding Maker's Plea Against Rejection Of Certification

Observing that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) failed to follow the principles of natural justice, the Bombay High Court on Thursday said it will watch the film titled "Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi" and then decide the plea filed by the film's makers to certify the film for public exhibition. 

The film is inspired from the book 'The Monk Who Became Chief Minister' which is purportedly based on the life of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Notably, the CBFC's examination committee had rejected the application filed by the film makers raising objections to at least 29 scenes and dialogues, earlier this month. The film was then referred to the Revision Committee of the CBFC, which accepted the objections to at least 21 scenes and again rejected the film makers plea for certification. 

The CBFC, according to the makers, are insisting on a 'no objection certificate' from the office of the UP CM. However, the bench had in an earlier hearing, made it clear that the central board should not insist on such an NOC.

The makers have now challenged the decision of the Revision Committee.

On Thursday, a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Dr Neela Gokhale said it will watch the film this weekend and then hear the plea on Monday (August 25).

"Submit a copy of the film with clear marking of the scenes or dialogues as objected to by the CBFC," the judges told the makers of the film while accepting the copy of the book in the court. 

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Ravi Kadam for the film makers raised the issue of the NOC sought by the CBFC and argued that the central board cannot claim to be a 'guardian' of the fundamental rights of a private person. 

Senior Advocate Abhay Khandeparkar for the CBFC, however, maintained that the central board has always followed the principles of natural justice in this case. He pointed out that since the Revision Committee too has rejected the plea of the makers, they now have an alternate remedy to appeal before the High Court. 

Having considered the submissions, the judges, while pulling up the CBFC for the manner in which it has handled the instant case, orally remarked, "When did you follow the principles of natural justice? This is an exercise you ought to have done for every film.You have failed to do it."

With this, the bench posted the matter for further hearing till August 25. 

Appearance:

Senior Advocate Ravi Kadam along with Advocates Aseem Naphde, Satatya Anand, and Nikhil Aradhe appeared for the Film Makers. 

Senior Advocate Abhay Khandeparkar along with Advocate Dhirendra Pratap Singh represented the CBFC.