Maha: HC asks CBFC to decide on release of Kangana Ranaut-starrer' Emergency'

The Bombay High Court directed the revising committee of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to take a decision by September 25 on issuing a certificate for the release of BJP MP and Bollywood actress Kanaga Ranaut-starrer 'Emergency'.A division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh P Pooniwalla was hearing a plea by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd against CBFC for allegedly illegally and arbitrarily withholding the certificate granted to Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency.

This request followed a controversy over claims that the film misrepresents the Sikh community.Expressing displeasure over the delay in the release of a certificate, the court said the delay in releasing the certificate has to stop as it would be curtailing freedom of expression and creative freedom and the longer the film takes to get released, there will be a ‘huge’ financial burden on the producers.

“You (CBFC) must have the courage to say that this film will not be released. We will appreciate and examine the stand. We do not want CBFC to sit on the fence. Take a decision one way or the other by September 25,” the bench remarked.

In their plea, Zee stated that although they were informed of the film's certification on August 29, the CBFC failed to provide a physical copy of the certificate.It was also informed to the court that the censor clearance for movie was being delayed by the CBFC since the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is sceptical that the movie might affect the party's prospects in the upcoming assembly polls in Haryana.

CBFC's senior counsel Abhinav Chandrachud, appearing for CBFC, told the court that the Censor Board was reviewing representations and objections received by it against the movie."There are some scenes in the movie wherein a person, a polarising figure of particular religious persuasion is cutting a deal with political parties. We have to see whether this is factually accurate," Chandrachud added.The court adjourned the matter till September 25.(UNI)<>