Centre's panel suggests six further cuts in 'Udaipur Files', SC informed

New Delhi: The Supreme Court was on Monday told that the Union government has given conditional clearance for the release of Udaipur Files, a film based on the 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan, by directing six additional modifications.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, however, extended the stay on the film till Thursday, as the court is expected to the parties on the decision by the Centre taken on representations made in terms of the Delhi High Court's July 10 order.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government submitted that the Centre has taken a decision on the film and going further would violate the fundamental right under Article (19)(1)(a) of the Constitution.

The bench said the Centre’s decision would be binding unless it was successfully challenged.

Senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia, appearing for film producers sought a direction for the release of the film. He referred an order passed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and others appearing for Maulana Arshad Madani, head of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind and accused Javed opposed the plea for film's release.

On July 14, a committee was formed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to reconsider the certification of Udaipur Files.

The committee reviewed the content of the film and recommended six additional changes beyond the 55 cuts already implemented by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The Delhi HC had on July 10 ordered the Central government to exercise its revisional powers under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act to examine the movie.

A batch of three petitions, including one filed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani, were filed before the High Court seeking a ban on the movie based on tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli's murder in Udaipur, for vilifying Muslims. The movie was slated to be released on July 11.

The bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal of the High Court asked the petitioners to approach the Central government and stayed the movie release in the meantime.

The movie was said to be based on killing of tailor Kanhaiya Lal for supporting Nupur Sharma in June, 2022. The macabre act by the religious fanatics was recorded on camera, sending shockwaves across the country.