Sukhbir Sandhar Films Pvt. Ltd. v. Film Certification Appellate Board

$~ * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 3005/2016 SUKHBIR SANDHAR FILMS PVT. LTD.

..... Petitioner Through: Mr. Rohit Sharma, Advocate with Mr. Rounak Nayak, Advocate.

versus FILM CERTIFICATION APPELLATE BOARD ..... Respondent Through: None.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANMOHAN

O R D E R

% 06.04.2016 CM Appls. 12623-12624/2016 (exemption) in W.P.(C) 3005/2016 Allowed, subject to just exceptions.

W.P.(C) 3005/2016 Present writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to respondentFilm Certification Appellate Tribunal to consider and decide the appeal dated 28th March, 2016 filed against the order dated 23rd March, 2016 passed by the Central Board of Film Certification, Mumbai, whereby the petitioner's film 'SAKA-NANKANA SAHIB DE SHAHEED' (Punjabi) was rated as 'A with cuts' before 08th April, 2016. Learned counsel for petitioner states that petitioner has already entered into contract with the distributors in India and abroad for release of film on 08th April, 2016. He further states that the petitioner has spent

substantial sum of money on advertisement campaigns. Learned counsel for petitioner states that even his request for early hearing has not been listed before the Appellate Tribunal. Though this Court is of the view that it should not manage the Board of the Appellate Tribunal and issue any direction to it to decide the petitioner's appeal prior to 08th April, 2016, yet it directs that petitioner's application for early hearing be listed before the Appellate Tribunal for consideration on or before 08th April, 2016.

With the aforesaid direction, present writ petition stands disposed of. However, this Court clarifies that it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the controversy. Rights and contentions of all parties are left open.

Order dasti under signature of Court Master.

MANMOHAN, J APRIL 06, 2016 js