Chennai: A Division Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday set aside a single judge’s order that had directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue a ‘UA’ certificate to actor-politician Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan. The bench, comprising Chief Justice M.M. Srivatsava and Justice G. Arulmurugan, allowed the appeal filed by the CBFC and remanded the case back to the single judge for a fresh hearing, dealing a setback to the film’s immediate release prospects.
Court Cites Procedural Lapse, Flags Content on “Religious Conflict”
Pronouncing the order, the court held that the single judge, Justice P.T. Asha, “ought not to have gone into the merits” of the case without granting the CBFC adequate time to file its counter-affidavit. The bench highlighted that the complaint before the CBFC chairman specifically cited dialogues in the film regarding “foreign powers creating religious conflict in India which may disturb religious disharmony.” The court stated, “The decision of the writ court has to go,” and set aside the impugned order while allowing the CBFC’s appeal.
Case Remanded: Producers Granted Liberty to Amend Petition
The Division Bench’s ruling essentially resets the legal process. The matter has been sent back to the single judge for a fresh hearing, with clear procedural directives. The court has granted the film’s producers, KVN Productions, the opportunity to amend their original writ petition. Subsequently, the CBFC will be given time to file its detailed counter-affidavit, after which the single judge will hear both sides comprehensively before delivering a new verdict.
Legal Timeline and Impact on Jana Nayagan’s Release
This decision extends the uncertainty around the release of Jana Nayagan, which was originally scheduled for a Pongal release on January 9. The legal journey saw Justice P.T. Asha quash the CBFC’s referral to a Revising Committee on January 7, a order that was swiftly stayed by the Division Bench on January 9. Today’s final order from the Division Bench nullifies the single judge’s directive, ensuring a prolonged legal battle. The film, starring Vijay in his last cinematic role before his full-time political commitment, remains in limbo as the case returns to the starting point of a fresh single-judge hearing.