The central government Monday informed the Supreme Court that a committee it set up to review the certificate granted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for the movie Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder has recommended certain changes to the film, including adding a new disclaimer.
With the Centre placing the order on record, the bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi adjourned the hearing on petitions for and against the film’s release till July 24, and directed that the stay on the release will continue till then.
The committee, after deliberations and detailed discussions, recommended that the filmmakers “replace the existing disclaimer with the provided recommended disclaimer” and include a voice-over for the disclaimer; remove the frames in the credits that thank various individuals; replace all instances of the name “Nutan Sharma”, including on the poster, with a new name; besides directing the removal of some dialogues.
The Delhi High Court had stayed the movie’s release till the Centre’s committee took a call on the matter, and following a writ petition by an accused who contended that releasing the film would jeopardise his right to a free trial.
Apprising the bench about the order of the committee set up by the Information and Broadcasting ministry, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said anything more than what has been done would be violative of the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. He added, “It is my personal opinion, having gone through the order.”
Hearing the matter on July 14, the apex court had decided to wait till July 21, by which time it hoped the committee would take a decision.
Appearing for the petitioner, Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy said, “I am challenging the order (of the committee).”
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Justice Surya Kant told Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, who submitted that the committee had ordered six changes, that he will have to make those changes anyway “unless you challenge that order and your plea is accepted.”
