Jana Nayagan issue: Court pauses order granting censor certificate
The Madras High Court on Tuesday set aside the earlier single-judge order that directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue a censor certificate to Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, and has remitted the matter for a fresh hearing.
The decision overturns the previous ruling that had gone in favour of the film’s producers.
The dispute arose after the CBFC delayed the certification process and subsequently subjected the film to further review, prompting the makers to move the court as the release was stalled.
The High Court will now re-examine the case to determine whether the certification and the objections raised were handled in accordance with due process.
The bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan told the producers that the natural justice principles were not followed during the case proceedings earlier.
The court further directed the single bench to provide an opportunity for the censor board to respond in the case. The producer, KVN Productions, were asked to amend the writ petition.
The court earlier reserved its order on January 20 after the hearing. The film, which is being promoted as the final screen presence of actor Vijay, before he fully dedicates himself to politics, has snowballed into a row following CBFC’s delay in issuing a certificate.
The 51-year-old earlier addressed the crowd during a political event and said he wouldn’t “bow to the pressure.”