Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is adamant on pre-censoring all plays, scripts and drama before they are staged.
The state claims it has the right to know what citizens are going to see in the play. This stand of the government came to the fore during a hearing of actor Amol Palekar’s petition for squashing sections related to pre-censorship of plays and dramas. The HC has given the state two weeks to clear its stand and also asked Mr Palekar to file a rejoinder on the government’s reply if he desires.
The actor-cum filmmaker has challenged pre-censorship of theatre performances, by the Maharashtra State Performance Scrutiny Board under various provisions of the Bombay Police Act, 1951.
Mr Palekar argues that this restricts freedom of speech and expression. The division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice M.S. Sonak was hearing a writ petition filed by Mr Palekar.
Earlier, the state told court that said amendment was carried out in the Bombay Police Act 1951 and condition of pre-censorship of dramas, plays and ghazals in auditoriums and local functions by police was removed from March 2016. However when the matter came up for hearing, Chief General Prosecutor Abhinandan Vagyani said that pre-censorship of police had been stopped but MSPSB will check the scripts of plays and dramas.
