Delhi High Court today stayed the television
premier of Bollywood movie “Grand Masti” saying the film was not certified for
unrestricted public exhibition and cannot be televised under the Cable Network
Regulation Act.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice
Jayant Nath was of the prima facie view that under the Act, any movie with
‘U/A’ or ‘A’ certification, which were not suitable for unrestricted
exhibition, cannot be shown on television.
In an interim order, the court rejected the
government’s argument that since a warning that it was not suitable for
children and minors is shown before such a movie starts, parents could change
the channel.
Every time a child watches TV, it might not be
under parental supervision, the bench observed.
While passing the interim order, the court also
issued notice to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and Central
Board of Film Certification (CBFC) seeking their replies by September 16 on a
plea seeking quashing of the U/A certification given to the movie.
The petition, filed by Edara Gopi Chand through
advocate Gaurav Bansal, has sought stay on the telecast of the film on
television saying it was replete with double meaning dialogues and highly
objectionable content. The movie is to be shown on television tomorrow.
The petition has also sought direction to the
ministry to carry out detailed enquiry into “irregular re-certification” of the
film done by CBFC.
