PIL against Sunny Deol's 'Mohalla Assi': HC fixes July 6 as date of hearing

Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court today fixed July 6 as the next date of hearing of a PIL seeking direction against clearance to Sunny Deol-starrer 'Mohalla Assi', alleging that the film hurts religious sentiments.

The court had directed the counsels of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the Centre to seek instructions for placing their responses and had listed the matter for toady but their response could not be placed before it. The counsel for central government told the court that he had informed the matter to the Centre but is yet to get instructions for it.

On June 26, the Lucknow bench of justices Arun Tandon and Anil Kumar had issued notices to Chairman of CBFC Mumbai and the Centre on the PIL, filed by 'Hindu Front For Justice', a group of 11 local lawyers. The petitioners had sought a direction to ensure that trailer of the film is not exhibited in any manner, in public or on social media, till the time necessary certificate is granted by CBFC.

The petitioners alleged that from the trailer of the film, it appears that the "producer, director and actors have acted in most irresponsible manner and have degraded, as if intentionally, the cultural background of the religious place 'Kashi'".

It was also alleged that they have "intentionally tried to tarnish the image of Lord Shiva, Hindu saints and women". Petitioner counsel HS Jain submitted that in the trailer, Lord Shiva has been shown using abusive language.