NEW DELHI: Film producer Prakash Jha on Friday moved the Supreme Court to lift the ban on his film 'Aarakshan' in states of UP, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.
Jha in his writ petition said that the ban on 'Aarakshan' goes against the spirit of freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution, advocate Ameet Naik told the TOI.
The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing at 2:00pm today.
The writ petition raises the following important questions of law for general public importance:
* When the Central Board of Film Certification, the statutory body constituted under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, has certified the petitioners' film for public exhibition, could the states ban the exhibition of the film under their regulatory statutes of cinemas?
* Whether states could have banned the film when the examining committee of the Central Board of Film Certification comprised of members who were drawn from the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and other backward castes.
* The ban on the film violates the petitioner's fundamental rights under 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India.
According to PTI report, Jha, who held a press conference in Mumbai on Friday, said he was ready to make minor changes in the film, respecting concerns voiced by different political bodies.
"We have agreed to make minor changes following objections. There are certain dialogues and scenes that have been edited. Reservation is not a necessity but a Constitutional truth and we have been very careful about depicting it in the film," Jha said.
The director said his film is not only about reservation but also deals with the commercialisation of education.
"It (the ban) could be because of political reasons. We are discussing the matter with people there. With a sensitive issue like this there is always doubt but we are trying to discuss and resolve it. What else can I do," he said.
The security for the film's lead cast--Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan--has also been beefed up by the Mumbai police.
The film is due to hit the screens on Friday.
Jha in his writ petition said that the ban on 'Aarakshan' goes against the spirit of freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution, advocate Ameet Naik told the TOI.
The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing at 2:00pm today.
The writ petition raises the following important questions of law for general public importance:
* When the Central Board of Film Certification, the statutory body constituted under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, has certified the petitioners' film for public exhibition, could the states ban the exhibition of the film under their regulatory statutes of cinemas?
* Whether states could have banned the film when the examining committee of the Central Board of Film Certification comprised of members who were drawn from the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and other backward castes.
* The ban on the film violates the petitioner's fundamental rights under 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India.
According to PTI report, Jha, who held a press conference in Mumbai on Friday, said he was ready to make minor changes in the film, respecting concerns voiced by different political bodies.
"We have agreed to make minor changes following objections. There are certain dialogues and scenes that have been edited. Reservation is not a necessity but a Constitutional truth and we have been very careful about depicting it in the film," Jha said.
The director said his film is not only about reservation but also deals with the commercialisation of education.
"It (the ban) could be because of political reasons. We are discussing the matter with people there. With a sensitive issue like this there is always doubt but we are trying to discuss and resolve it. What else can I do," he said.
The security for the film's lead cast--Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan--has also been beefed up by the Mumbai police.
The film is due to hit the screens on Friday.
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