Telangana HC directs CBFC to certify Raam Bhajarang
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court has directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to process and issue a certification for the feature film Raam Bhajarang, holding that a pending legal dispute cannot, by itself, be a ground to withhold a censor certificate.
Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka observed that the CBFC must discharge its statutory duty under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and cannot refuse to act merely because a third party has filed a writ petition.
CBFC’s role limited to film certification
The court held that a statutory authority cannot decline to perform its legal obligations unless there is an interim stay or injunction from a competent court. In the absence of such an order, the CBFC is required to process certification applications in accordance with the law.
It further clarified that the CBFC’s role is confined to examining a film for certification and does not extend to deciding ownership claims or contractual disputes between rival parties.
Production house challenged delay
The writ petition was filed by Sunrise Entertainments, which contended that the CBFC had failed to process its certification application despite there being no legal prohibition. The production house informed the court that filming had been completed and that it held the registered title of Raam Bhajarang.
According to the petitioner, the CBFC had kept the certification process on hold after another producer filed a separate writ petition claiming rights over the film and sought to prevent the issuance of a censor certificate.
After examining the submissions, the High Court held that a statutory authority cannot refuse to decide an application and direct the applicant to seek relief from the court.
Allowing the writ petition, the Telangana High Court directed the CBFC to process the certification application for Raam Bhajarang without delay and issue the certificate in accordance with the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
