HC refuses to stay its release, ‘Santa Banta Pvt Ltd’ opens in theatres

Seeking a stay on the film’s release, the DSGMC claimed that they had met CBFC officials in Mumbai in pursuance to the court’s April 19 order, but were neither given a proper hearing nor was the film shown to them.

With the Delhi high court on Thursday refusing to stay the release of the film ‘Santa Banta Pvt Ltd’, the movie opened in theatres on Friday.

Justice J R Midha passed the order declining the plea of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee seeking stay on the film on the grounds that the Central Board of Film Certification had not complied with the high court’s direction. (HT photo)

Justice JR Midha passed the order declining the plea of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) seeking stay on the film on the grounds that Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had not complied with the high court’s direction.

The counsel for DSGMC referred to the April 19 direction during the hearing of the contempt plea filed by it and two others against CBFC chairman Pahlaj Nihalani and CEO Anurag Shrivastava, in which it was alleged that they had not complied with the March 29 directions of the court. He said CBFC had not complied with the order asking it to give them hearing on the issue. The DSGMC had claimed that the film made fun of the Sikh community.

Seeking a stay on the film’s release, the DSGMC claimed that they had met CBFC officials in Mumbai in pursuance to the court’s April 19 order, but were neither given a proper hearing nor was the film shown to them.

The Centre’s standing counsel countered the submissions. The court refused to stay release of the movie observing that it had the jurisdiction to hear only contempt matters.