HC sends documentary on Muzaffarnagar riots to CBFC for review

The Delhi High Court today sent a documentary on Muzaffarnagar riots back to the censor board for reviewing the film to see if a certificate for its public screening can be granted by deleting any scene found objectionable by it.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to pass a "speaking order" by giving reasons for any portion of the documentary -- 'En Dino Muzaffarnagar' -- that it finds objectionable.
"If the entire documentary is found violative of the certification guidelines then reasons on how the norms were violated have to be given," the court said.

It also said the CBFC members who would review the documentary shall be other than those who had viewed it earlier and the entire exercise be completed in four weeks.
The court observed, "You (CBFC) can't say the whole documentary is objectionable" while disposing of a petition filed by Meera Chaudhary, wife of late Shubhradeep Chakravorty who made the documentary.
The petition was moved alleging that no detailed reasoning was given by CBFC while denying certification to the documentary.

The court said that if CBFC feels its necessary, it may call upon Chaudhary at the time of viewing.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing on behalf of CBFC, assured the court that the documentary will get a fair review.

During the proceedings, the ASG opposed the public screening of the documentary, saying it would lead to "flaring up of communal tension as the film is one-sided".
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Meera Chaudhary, said that the public screening of the documentary is being opposed on the mere ground that "it depicts the BJP in a poor light".
He said that CBFC's own counter affidavit says that the documentary is defamatory towards a group and body of individuals.
He denied the allegation that the documentary can cause communal disharmony, saying the film is about communal harmony.