HC orders CBFC to reexamine certificate given to film promos

The direction was given by division bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and A A Sayed on a petition filed by Krishna Mishra and his production house, Hari Om films.

He had moved the court against the orders of CBFC and Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, granting `A' (adults) certificate to the promos and three songs of the film `Beehad - The Ravine'.

The judges asked the Censor board to consider the "contemporary" material which may be produced by the petitioners, and decide afresh.

Petitioner's lawyers S R Nargolkar and Raju Moray said that on July 3 an application was made to CBFC for `U' certificate for the promos, but Board gave 'A' certificate.

The petitioners were agreeable to the `A' certificate provided the cuts and excisions ordered by the Board were not imposed.

The petitioners argued that the scenes in question would not `deprave the minds of the young people' and were not against the sovereignty and integrity of the Country or would not in any way endanger public order, decency or morality.

"On the contrary, the scenes are needed to propagate the message sought to be conveyed by the film, which is a depiction of the life of dacoits in a ravine," the petitioners said.

The story revolves around a female Bandit. The use of certain expletives which are commonly used in these areas is necessary to lend force and to make the presentation realistic, the petitioners argued. The song sequences are also necessary "for a realistic depiction of the theme", the petitioners added.