HC strikes down requirement of censorship for documentary films

Mumbai, July 27 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today struck down the need for censorship of documentary films, as part of eligibility criteria to participate in the 'National Film Awards (NFA).

A division bench comprising Justices F I Rebeillo and V K Tahilramani was hearing a petition filed by documentary filmmakers Gaurav Jani, Anand Patwardhan and Simantini Dhuru along with filmmakers associated with Vikalp and Docuwallas (production houses).

The petitioners pleaded that digital/video films should compete for NFA in their original format and the censorship certificate requirement be removed as a pre-condition for the NFA.

However, during the pendency of the case, the government allowed the digital/video format for eligibility, but did not concede the censorship aspect.

The court held the prayer of the petitioner to allow the jury to determine the best film in the country from a technical, aesthetic and social perspective as originally intended by the creators and before the intervention of the censors.

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