The government’s decision last week to abolish the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal has attracted much criticism from Bollywood as we...
The government’s decision last week to abolish the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal has attracted much criticism from Bollywood as well as liberal sections of the media, who have painted the tribunal as a defender of free speech and artistic freedom.
The tribunal was set up under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, to hear appeals against the Central Film Certification Board (or CBFC, better known as the Censor Board). It was slated for demolition under the Tribunal Reforms Bill, 2021 that was introduced in Parliament in the last session. It met with a premature death after the government decided to go down the ordinance route.
Filmmakers seeking certification for their works will now have to have to approach High Courts if they have any grievances with the CBFC.
While the government may be faulted for taking the ordinance route and not consulting stakeholders before taking its decision to abolish the FCAT, Bollywood’s newfound love for the tribunal is surprising. This is not a body known for its intellectual rigour or adherence to basic free speech principles. Bollywood’s fear appears to be that the abolition of the FCAT will lead to delays in disputes over certification by the CBFC, which is one of the most arbitrary bodies in this country.
Big upside
There appear to be no academic...
