Mumbai: In a strong reprimand for the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC), the Bombay High Court, which is hearing a plea filed by the makers of Udta Punjab challenging the 89 cuts sought by the board, on Monday said that the job of the CBFC was to certify films and not censor them.
“The word censor is nowhere in the Act. Your power is to certify films for public exhibition,” the court said today.
The court further rapped the board, headed by Pahlaj Nihlani who is in the eye of a storm following allegations that he was acting at the BJP’s behest, saying every word should not be connected to Punjab.
In reply to the CBFC lawyer’s argument that the words were offensive and that the context in which the film was being shown was wrong, the court said the board was not authorized to decide for others.
“Your job is to certify and release the film. You cannot raise objections to anyone’s choice. Let the audience decide. It is their decision,” the court said.
During the hearing, the lawyer for the producers cited examples of films like Delhi Belly, Bandit Queen, Gangs of Wasseypur where there was use of cuss words but had been cleared by the board. He further contended that some of the words to which the Board has now raised objection were part of its trailer, but was cleared by the CBFC for release.
The makers of the film have agreed to remove a scene which showed urination, the lawyer told court.
The court observed that the controversy was giving the film unnecessary publicity.
The judge also asked the censor board what it was doing when Goa was depicted in bad light a number of times.
