Mumbai, September 4: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said that it is unable to direct the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue a certificate as would contradict the Madhya Pradesh High Court order.
The court has instructed the CBFC to make a decision on the film's certification by September 18. The next hearing is scheduled for September 19.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises, co-producer of Emergency, had petitioned the Bombay High Court to compel the CBFC to release the film and grant it a censor certificate, arguing that the board's delay was arbitrary and illegal.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court had previously directed the CBFC to review representations made by Sikh groups who had filed objections to the film.
The Bombay High Court noted that it was not dismissing the petition and mentioned that a delay of one week would not be devastating. The court observed that arguments about the film's content should have been presented to the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Additionally, the court questioned how groups could label the film as objectionable without watching it.
The Bombay High Court emphasized that issuing a certificate contrary to the Madhya Pradesh High Court's order would create legal complications.
