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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
N.ANAND VENKATESH
Vetri Maaran – Appellant
Versus
Chairman Central Board Of Film Certification, Films Division Complex – Respondent
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ORDER :
1. This writ petition, under Article 226 of the Constitution, calls into question the recommendations of the Revising Committee (the Committee) of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) dated 13.06.2025, directing the petitioner to excision/modify visuals, dialogues, scenes etc., and for a consequential direction to the 1st respondent to issue appropriate certification for the movie "Manushi".
2. On an earlier occasion, the petitioner had approached this Court and filed W.P.No.18036 of 2025 for a direction to the 2nd respondent to consider and pass orders on the representation dated 29.03.2025, wherein, the petitioner had requested for re-examining the movie "Manushi". This writ petition was disposed of by an order dated 17.06.2025. The background of this case and the developments that took place can be properly appreciated by extracting the earlier order hereunder:
2. When the writ petition came up for hearing on 04.06.2025, this Court passed the following orders :
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“ This writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the second respondent to consider the representation made by the petitioner on 29.03.2025 and to issue a speaking order
Artistic expression in film must be balanced with state interests in censorship, ensuring compliance with statutory guidelines without undermining fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a)....
Artistic freedom of expression under the Cinematograph Act must be upheld, and censorship must consider the overall social message of a film without imposing undue restrictions.
The Court held that the Revising Committee is required to assign reasons while granting 'U' certificate to a film with excisions and that no reasons were assigned by the Revising Committee in this ca....
Point of law : Movie – Foul language - freedom of speech and expression to every citizen as per Article 19 (1)(a) of the Constitution of India. But the above types of critics will be doing an injusti....
The judgment emphasizes the creative freedom of filmmakers in addressing social issues and the responsibility to depict the overall message of the film in determining its permissibility. It also high....
The court's decision emphasized the limited scope of intervention under Article 226 of the Constitution of India in film certification matters and highlighted the availability of remedies under the C....
The authority to refer a film to a Revising Committee exists only before a certification decision is made; post-approval actions are without jurisdiction.
The court emphasized that failure to challenge a decision undermines writ petition maintainability, highlighting the necessity of procedural fairness in legal proceedings.
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