The Delhi High Court today issued notice in a plea seeking the release of a Hindi film titled #MeToo..Notice was issued to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the Central government by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru..The producer of the film, Sajid Iqbal, had moved the High Court after the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), Delhi declined to condone the delay in filing an appeal against an order passed by the CBFC..Through its order passed in December 2018, the CBFC had restricted the public exhibition of the film to adults by granting it an ‘A’ certificate. It had also directed the petitioner to carry out several modifications to the film before its release, including a change in the title “#MeToo”..The petitioner argues that the CBFC’s order was in violation of Article 19 of the Constitution of India and the principles of natural justice..It is further submitted that the order was passed without adhering to the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Rules framed under the Act..It is the petitioner’s stance that the CBFC did not give any reasonable justification for the change of title. The petition filed through Advocate Shilpi Jain reads,.“Their view that the complexity of the Me Too movement would be misunderstood or compromised if the title is not changed, is absolutely without any application of mind and neither rational nor justified…The film maker has remained responsible and sensitive to the values and standards of society. It has been a source of introspection wherein the film maker has attempted to bring a positive change in society.”.It is therefore submitted that the change in the title would result in a loss of the film’s essence.. “If the title is permitted to be changed, it will lose it’s essence as the title conveys a very serious social message that till men change the way they view women, women shall continue to be targeted as victims of sexual crimes and there is a need for social correction.”.The petitioner has also challenged the direction to insert a disclaimer statint “this film contains graphic scenes of violence and assault against women”, and that “this film contains extremely graphic and explicit language”. It is claimed that the direction is extremely arbitrary and without justification, as no reasonable person after viewing the movie would come to the conclusion that the film contained scenes of violence and assault against women..The petition also assails that decision of the CBFC to send the film to a Revising Committee in Chennai..The matter will be heard next on May 3..Bar & Bench is available on WhatsApp. For real-time updates on stories, Click here to subscribe to our WhatsApp.
The Delhi High Court today issued notice in a plea seeking the release of a Hindi film titled #MeToo..Notice was issued to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the Central government by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru..The producer of the film, Sajid Iqbal, had moved the High Court after the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), Delhi declined to condone the delay in filing an appeal against an order passed by the CBFC..Through its order passed in December 2018, the CBFC had restricted the public exhibition of the film to adults by granting it an ‘A’ certificate. It had also directed the petitioner to carry out several modifications to the film before its release, including a change in the title “#MeToo”..The petitioner argues that the CBFC’s order was in violation of Article 19 of the Constitution of India and the principles of natural justice..It is further submitted that the order was passed without adhering to the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Rules framed under the Act..It is the petitioner’s stance that the CBFC did not give any reasonable justification for the change of title. The petition filed through Advocate Shilpi Jain reads,.“Their view that the complexity of the Me Too movement would be misunderstood or compromised if the title is not changed, is absolutely without any application of mind and neither rational nor justified…The film maker has remained responsible and sensitive to the values and standards of society. It has been a source of introspection wherein the film maker has attempted to bring a positive change in society.”.It is therefore submitted that the change in the title would result in a loss of the film’s essence.. “If the title is permitted to be changed, it will lose it’s essence as the title conveys a very serious social message that till men change the way they view women, women shall continue to be targeted as victims of sexual crimes and there is a need for social correction.”.The petitioner has also challenged the direction to insert a disclaimer statint “this film contains graphic scenes of violence and assault against women”, and that “this film contains extremely graphic and explicit language”. It is claimed that the direction is extremely arbitrary and without justification, as no reasonable person after viewing the movie would come to the conclusion that the film contained scenes of violence and assault against women..The petition also assails that decision of the CBFC to send the film to a Revising Committee in Chennai..The matter will be heard next on May 3..Bar & Bench is available on WhatsApp. For real-time updates on stories, Click here to subscribe to our WhatsApp.
