Bombay High Court rejects CBFC's objections to 'Inn Galiyon Mein', says board exceeded guidelines
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has dismissed several objections raised by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) regarding scenes and dialogues in the film Inn Galiyon Mein, stating that the board was "stretching its own guidelines a bit too much."
The film’s director, Vinod Kumar, had challenged the CBFC’s suggested modifications, which included excisions, insertions, and deletions. One of the primary objections was over a scene depicting a flag being trampled. CBFC’s counsel, Advocate Vinit Jain, argued that such visuals should not be allowed, asserting that “a flag of any nature ought not to be treated in such an insulting manner.”
However, Justice Manish Pitale dismissed the concern, agreeing with the petitioner’s argument that the flag did not represent any nation or political party. Instead, it belonged to a fictional party in the film, linked to a character inciting communal disharmony, who is ultimately defeated.
“Mere trampling of the flag cannot be said to be objectionable, particularly when it neither represents the flag of a nation nor that of any political party,” the court observed.
The CBFC also sought to remove the phrase "Goli maro salon ko," citing its reference to a neighbouring country. The court found no issue with it, noting that the film portrays those using such language as being defeated by rational characters.
“This court is of the opinion that in the context of the entire film, particularly in the light of the sequence or scenes that lead up to the said dialogue, nothing objectionable is found, and the respondent-CBFC is stretching its own guidelines a bit too much while raising the aforesaid objection,” the order stated.
Similarly, the board objected to the dialogue "Ye desh aisa hi chalega" and insisted on removing the word "Desh." The court ruled against this, stating that in the film’s context, it was not objectionable.
While the filmmakers voluntarily accepted some modifications suggested by the CBFC, the court directed them to submit a revised version of the film within a week. The CBFC must then issue a UA-12 certificate within the following week.
Set in Lucknow, Inn Galiyon Mein stars Javed Jaffrey, Vivaan Shah, and Avantika Dasani. The film revolves around a romance between protagonists from different communities, set against the backdrop of an election influenced by fake rumours.
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'Someone must be held accountable': HC converts civil suit on Goa nightclub tragedy into PIL
Panaji (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) saying "someone has to be held accountable" for the tragedy in which 25 people were killed.In a stern observation, Goa bench of the High Court of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ashish Chavan said the local panchayat had "failed to take suo motu cognisance" of the club and had taken "no action despite complaints."
The division bench directed the Goa government to file a detailed reply on the permissions granted to the nightclub.
The High Court, while fixing January 8 as the next date of hearing, pointed out that commercial operations were continuing in the structure despite it having been served a demolition order.
The original petition was filed after the December 6 tragedy by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, the owners of the land on which the nightclub was operating.
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Advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, the lawyer representing the petitioner, was made amicus curiae in the matter and has been asked to file a detailed affidavit in the matter.
In their petition, Amonkar and Divkar highlighted "the alarming pattern of statutory violations that have remained inadequately addressed despite multiple complaints, inspections, show-cause notices, and even a demolition order".
They contended that these violations posed "immediate threats to public safety, ecological integrity, and the rule of law in the state of Goa."
Investigations by multiple agencies into the nightclub fire have revealed various irregularities, including lack of permissions to operate the nightclub.
The Goa police arrested five managers and staff members of the club, while co-owners Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra have been detained in Thailand after they fled the country.
