P N Ramachandra v. Union Of India & ORS

$~17 *

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ P N RAMACHANDRA ..... Petitioner Through:

Mr. Neeraj K. Gupta, Adv.

versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS ..... Respondents Through:

Mr. Vivek Goyal, CGSC for UOI/R-1 & 2

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV SACHDEVA

O R D E R

% 16.06.2017 CM No. 22572/2017 (Exemption) Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

W.P. (C) 5329/2017 & CM No. 22571/2017 1.

The petitioner impugns letter dated 08.06.2017 whereby the film of the petitioner has not been granted exemption from certification for being screened in the film festival being organized by the Kerala Chalchitra Academy.

2.

The petitioner is the Director of the film. He submits that the film was earlier granted an exemption for screening of the film in the film festival held at Kolkata. Learned counsel submits that no reason

has been given for denying the screening of the film. 3.

Learned counsel appearing for the respondent-UOI /Ministry of Information & Broadcasting submits that the film has not been granted certification because of its sensitive content and it may have law and order ramifications.

4.

He further submits that the petitioner has no locus standi to file the petition, in as much as, the application is to be entertained on behalf of the Director of the film festival. He submits that the Director of the film festival has already filed an appeal with the appellate authority. The appellate authority has required the Director of the film festival to submit a copy of the film prior to further decision being taken on the appeal.

5.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner shall ensure that the Director of the film festival shall submit a copy of the film with the appellate authority by tomorrow i.e. 17.06.2017. 6.

The writ petition is accordingly disposed of permitting the Director of the film festival to submit a copy of the film to the appellate authority. In case the copy of the film is provided to the

appellate authority by the Director of the film festival by tomorrow, the authority shall take a decision with respect to the film prior to close on 18.06.2017.

7.

This order has been passed in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case as the film festival has commenced today and is ending on 20.06.2017.

8.

Order Dasti under signatures of the Court Master. SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J (Vacation Judge) JUNE 16, 2017 'rs'