'Jana Nayagan' censor certification row: Producers withdraw petition in Madras HC
Chennai (PTI): The Madras High Court on Tuesday permitted the producers of Tamil film 'Jana Nayagan', starring actor-turned-politician Vijay, to withdraw their petition, which sought a direction to the CBFC to grant a censor certificate to the film.
Justice P T Asha, before whom the petition came up for hearing, granted permission to M/s KVN Productions LLP, producers of the movie, to withdraw the petition.
The judge dismissed the petition as "withdrawn".
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The judge on January 9 allowed the petition filed by M/s KVN Productions LLP and gave a direction to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant a censor certificate forthwith.
The judge had also quashed a communication dated January 5 of the Regional Officer, informing the producers of the film that based on a complaint, the Chairperson of the Censor Board had referred the matter to the revising committee.
However, on the same day, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice M M Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan stayed her order on an appeal filed by CBFC.
After hearing elaborate arguments from both sides, the bench on January 20 reserved orders on the appeal.
Allowing the appeal, the bench on January 27, set aside the order of a single judge, which directed the CBFC to grant forthwith the censor certificate to the film. However, the bench instead of dismissing the writ petition, gave an opportunity to the producers of the movie to suitably amend the prayer in the petition and restored the petition to its original records and file.
The bench had said, if the respondent (producers) suitably amends the writ petition, the Single Judge may grant reasonable opportunity to the appellants (CBFC) to file counter affidavit and thereafter, the parties may pray for expeditious disposal of the writ petition on its own merits.
"We make it clear that it will be open for the Single Judge to decide whether or not the decision to refer the film for examination of the Revising Committee was in accordance with law or not," the bench added.
On December 22, the producer received a communication from the Regional Officer from Chennai informing that the 5-member examining committee, which viewed the film had recommended for screening of the movie and issuance of censor certificate. Thereafter, based on a complaint from one of the members of the examining committee, the Chairperson had decided to put on hold the December 22 communication and referred the matter to the revising committee. This was communicated to the producer of the movie on January 5.
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Have sanctioned 1,000 buses for next fiscal, says K'taka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday said the government has sanctioned procurement of 1,000 government buses in the next year’s budget.
According to him, in the current fiscal, 2,000 buses were sanctioned and many of them have already arrived.
Speaking in the Legislative Council, he alleged that the previous BJP government neither bought a single bus nor recruitment was done in the state transport department.
He was replying to BJP MLC Y M Satish’s request for buses for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.
“From 2019 to 2023, not a single bus was purchased in the four corporations. Not even one bus. If buses are not purchased continuously for four years, what will happen to the organisation?” Reddy asked.
He recalled that the last time buses were procured and recruitments took place were in 2016, when he was the transport minister during the previous Congress government from 2013 to 2018.
“After we came to power (from 2013), we procured 6,080 new buses. Then last year, 2,000 buses were provided, and many of them have already arrived. This year too, 1,000 buses have been sanctioned in the budget,” Reddy told the House.
He noted that 9,000 people were recruited and 1,300 people were appointed on compassionate grounds during the Congress tenure.
The Minister added that around 2,000 to 2,500 buses have been refurbished.
“In total, 6,080 buses came in two years. Last year’s 2,000 buses, and now 1,000 more. Altogether, we have about 26,000 buses. Out of these, nearly one-third have been added in the last two-and-a-half years,” Reddy said.
Satish told the Minister that at least 100 red buses and about 20 Volvo buses are required for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.
In response, Reddy said in 2022-23, 720 buses were given, and in 2024–25, 307 buses; in 2026, 140 buses—totalling 1,173 new buses were given to Kalyana Karnataka region.
There are around 4,000-odd buses in Kalyana Karnataka region, he said adding that another 400 buses have been tendered and funds have to be released.
“Additionally, 56 high-end buses—sleeper AC, non-sleeper AC, and Volvo buses—are also coming. Now, 400 buses are coming. Priority will be given to Ballari and Vijayanagara districts,” Reddy said.
