CBFC assures Bombay High Court of decision on certification for film on Yogi Adityanath in two working days
A Division Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale, while hearing a petition filed by Samrat Cinematics India Pvt. Ltd, expressed displeasure over the delay in certification and questioned the board's failure to act within the prescribed timelines under the Cinematograph Act and the new Certification Rules, 2024.
The filmmakers moved the High Court alleging 'arbitrary and unexplained' inaction by the CBFC though the application for certification of the film 'Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi' as well as its teaser, trailer and promotional song was made on June 5. The film, inspired by the book 'The Monk Who Became Chief Minister', is scheduled for release on August 1.
Representing the petitioner, senior advocate Ravi Kadam pointed out the CBFC's purported demand for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's Office, asserting that there is no mention of such a requirement in the Cinematograph Act, 1952 or the Certification Rules, 2024.
The CBFC's counsel submitted to the Bench that they will consider the application within two working days and communicate the same, on the same day or the next day.
The court recorded the submission and observed, 'The petitioner essentially seeks direction from CBFC to decide certification within a period not exceeding five days. A letter sent to applicant intimating the same is taken on record. In view of the statement that the process will be completed and the application will be decided, nothing survives in the petition. The decision taken by the CBFC has to be intimated on the same day. Petition is disposed of.'
The petitioners said they initially submitted their application for certification on June 5. Under Rule 37 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, the CBFC is obligated to examine the application within seven days and schedule a screening within 15 days. However, no action was taken for nearly a month, prompting further steps from the petitioners.
On July 3, following advice from CBFC officials, the filmmakers re-applied under the 'priority scheme' and paid three times the usual fee as stipulated under Rule 33(2). Although a screening was slated for July 7, it was cancelled abruptly a day before, with no explanation or follow-up communication.
When the filmmakers checked the application status on July 12, they found it marked as 'Incomplete' with an unclear instruction to 'Provide Documentary Evidence', without any specifics on what documents were required.
The petition alleged that the CBFC's conduct was arbitrary and had resulted in serious commercial and reputational damage, especially with the film's August 1 release date looming.
The filmmakers also pointed out that the film draws inspiration from the widely circulated 2017 book 'The Monk Who Became Chief Minister' by Shantanu Gupta, which has been translated into 12 languages and is publicly available. The petition noted that the book had received an official endorsement from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's Office and that the film offers a respectful and fact-based depiction of the Chief Minister's public life.
Arguing that the CBFC's delays and opaque conduct infringed upon their constitutional rights, the petitioners invoked Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution, citing violations of their rights to equality, free speech, profession, and personal liberty.
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