Madras High court: Freedom of expression applies to films
This is a democracy and people have their right to freedom of expression and this applies to films as well.
Chennai: The Madras high court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation, which sought a direction to the authorities to revoke the censor certificate issued to the Tamil film Mersal, starring popular film star Vijay as the movie contains dialogues affecting the sovereignty of the country. Dismissing the PIL filed by advocate A. Ashvathaman, a division bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and M. Sundar said the dialogues in the film allegedly against GST and digital India schemes of the Union government were just an expression of the movie which cannot be interfered with by the court.
Pulling up the advocate and questioning his intention in moving the PIL, the bench said, “If you are really concerned about public and society, you should have started campaigns against various social evils like untouchability and women’s safety. But you choose to target a particular film. Even today’s media have reported that the leader of Opposition in TN has criticised the demonetisation, can the court pass a gag order against him from making such statements. This is a democracy and people have their right to freedom of expression and this applies to films as well”. In his petition, Ashvathaman submitted that the film contains scenes and dialogues against the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India. False information about GST and the digital India Scheme would encourage people to evade tax, he added.