Sunny Deol’s upcoming film Suryaa: Ant Se Aarambh Tak has received a significant legal development ahead of its theatrical release. The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a stay on the film’s release, scheduled for November 20. The petitioners had raised objections to the film’s trailer, alleging that it portrays violence against medical professionals as heroic and unfairly generalises corruption within the healthcare sector.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma declined to entertain the PIL against Sunny Deol’s , observing that a similar petition was already pending before a single judge of the High Court. “We see no reason to entertain the present PIL,” the bench said. The Court noted that the other petition was scheduled to come up for hearing on November 16 and said there was no justification for having multiple proceedings on the same issue. It also granted the petitioners liberty to join the proceedings before the single judge and pursue their representation before the concerned authorities.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma declined to entertain the PIL against Suryaa
Why Was A PIL Filed Against Sunny Deol’s Film?
The PIL was filed by Dr Nachiketa Bhatia and Dr Dhruv Chauhan, who challenged the proposed theatrical release of . They alleged that the film’s official trailer depicts physical violence against doctors and other medical personnel in a manner that could be interpreted as heroic. The petitioners also argued that the narrative unfairly portrays corruption as widespread across the healthcare profession. According to them, such representations could encourage hostility towards doctors and create law-and-order concerns.
The plea contended that the alleged depiction violated Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The petitioners sought directions to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to examine the film and modify or delete scenes and dialogues considered objectionable. They also sought an ad-interim ex-parte stay on the film’s public screening until the statutory examination was completed.
The PIL was filed by Dr Nachiketa Bhatia and Dr Dhruv Chauhan, who challenged the proposed theatrical release of Suryaa: Ant Se Aarambh Tak
What Happened During The Delhi High Court Hearing?
During Wednesday’s hearing, the petitioners’ counsel argued that the matter was sensitive and that a PIL would have a wider scope than proceedings in an individual writ petition. The counsel also highlighted the language used in the film’s teaser, arguing that it could give viewers the impression that relatives of patients could resort to violence against doctors and medical staff.
The petitioners further informed the Court that they had already submitted a representation to the authorities and requested that it be considered. Meanwhile, the counsel appearing for the CBFC informed the bench that the film had not yet received certification and that its certification process was still pending consideration. However, the Court declined to entertain the fresh PIL in view of the similar matter already pending before the single judge.