New Delhi: A day after Bombay High Court allowed the release of 'Udta Punjab' with only one cut against the CBFC's recommendation of 89 cuts, a Punjab based NGO has sought to put on hold the screening of controversial film as it projected the agrarian state in a bad light.
The NGO, Human Rights Awareness Association told a Supreme Court vacation bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice L.Nageshwara Rao that the Bombay High Court, which on Monday had cleared the screening of the film with one cut, could not have interfered with the decision of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The Bombay High Court, had directed the producer of 'Udta Punjab' to make one cut and insert three disclaimers saying, among others that the film did not promote drugs.
Earlier, the CBFC had directed more than a dozen cuts in the film - down from the previous 89 - coupled with other directions before its release.
Punjab has a massive drug abuse problem. A study by Guru Nanak Dev University shows that more than 70% of young people in Punjab are addicted to drugs.
The HC said it did not find anything in the films script that shows the state in bad light or affects the sovereignty or integrity of India as it was claimed by CBFC.
The court also said that CBFC is not empowered by law to censor films, as the word censor is not included in the Cinematograph Act.
The film, based on the drug problem in Punjab, has been in news since an examining committee, headed by CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani, asked the makers to edit close to 30 minutes of the movie citing the use of cuss words.
The makers decided to challenge the examining committees decision and approached the revising committee. The revising committee then asked the filmmakers to effect 89 cuts, including the removal of word "Punjab" from the film.
