New Delhi, Jan 15, (.) The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a petition filed by the production house of Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan challenging an order of stay passed by a Division Bench of the Madras High Court on the film’s certification.
A Bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta questioned the “blistering pace” at which a single Judge of the High Court had directed the issuance of a censor certificate to the film on January 9.
The Court noted that the producer had not even challenged the January 6 order of the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), by which the film was referred to a revising committee.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the production house KVN, submitted that his client had been “ruined” due to the delay in certification.
When Justice Datta asked why such a claim was being made, Rohatgi argued that films and the publicity surrounding them were “perishable commodities.”
“If a film is delayed, people lose interest. It stops having any value. I have lost everything,” Rohatgi submitted.
The Bench, however, declined to interfere and asked Rohatgi to raise all his submissions before the Madras High Court Division Bench.
The Supreme Court directed the High Court to decide the pending petition before it expeditiously and preferably by January 20.
The two-judge Bench of the Madras High Court had stayed the Single Judge’s order directing issuance of a U/A 16 certificate to the film, within hours of the order being passed on January 9.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the CBFC and its Regional Officer before the Supreme Court.
The CBFC submitted that one of the five members of the examining committee had lodged a complaint with the Chairman, alleging that his objections were not duly considered before the recommendation was made.
The Board further contended that under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, the Chairman is empowered to refer a film to a revising committee if he does not agree with the recommendation of the examining panel.
It was also argued that the scope of judicial review on the merits of the grant of censor certificates is limited.
In view of these observations, the Supreme Court declined to entertain the petition.
The Court has directed the High Court to decide the matter by January 20.
. SNG MI .