HC declines to entertain producer’s plea against Censor Board

Directing petitioner Vaarahi to approach the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FACT) within two weeks, Justice M Subramaniam held that bypassing the tribunal in a routine manner was impermissible and the statutory body created under the Cinematograph Act must be respected by constitutional courts. 

Vaarahi, who has produced the film “Siva Manasula Pushpa,” moved the court challenging the order of the Central Board of Film Certification directing 15 cuts and change of the names of two main characters in the film and also the title for grant of certification.

The judge said the tribunal shall adjudicate the plea on merits and in accordance with law by affording an opportunity to the petitioner and dispose it within four weeks. He concurred with the submissions of the CBFC counsel that the petitioner had not exhausted all legal remedies available to him and instead prematurely filed the writ petition.