The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) informed the Bombay High Court on Thursday (July 17, 2025) that it would take a decision within two working days on certification applications filed by the makers of a film inspired by the life of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Emperor Cinematics India Pvt. Limited expressed displeasure over the delay in certification and questioned the failure of the board to work within the time set within the Cinematograph Act and the New Certification Rules, 2024.
Filmmakers shifted the High Court, although the application for the certification of the film ‘Ajaiya: The Untold Story of a Yogi’, although the CBFC moved of “arbitrary and unexplained” inaction, along with its teaser, trailer and pracharak songs were made on 5 June. The film is inspired by the book, which became a Munak, who became a Munak.
Representing the petitioner, senior advocate Ravi Kadam indicated the alleged CBFC’s alleged demand from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s office to the No Izact Certificate (NOC), stating that there is no mention of such a need in the Cinematograph Act, 1952 or certification rules, 2024.
The CBFC counsel presented to the bench that he would consider the application within two working days and would communicate the same day or the next day.
The court registered the submission and saw, “The petitioner essentially wants a direction to decide the certification within the period of not exceeding five days from the CBFC. A letter sent to the applicant has been taken on record. In view of the statement, the process will be completed and the application will be decided, not in the petition.
The petitioners said that they initially submitted their application for certification on 5 June. Under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, Rule 37 of 2024, CBFC is obliged to check the application within seven days and schedule screening within 15 days. However, no action was taken for about a month, taking further steps from the petitioners.
On July 3, after consulting CBFC officials, the filmmakers re -implemented under the ‘Priority Plan’ and paid three times the general fee prescribed under Rule 33 (2). Although a screening was slated for 7 July, it was suddenly canceled a day earlier, with no clarification or follow -up communication.
When the filmmakers examined the status of the application on July 12, they found that it was marked as “incomplete”, which is a vague instruction to “provide documentary evidence”, without any uniqueness without the need for any document.
The petition alleged that CBFC’s conduct was arbitrary and resulted in severe commercial and prestigious damage, especially with the film’s release date of 1 August.
Filmmakers also reported that the 2017 book ‘The Monk Hu Bane Mon Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Bane Mon Hu Hu Hu Hu Huh Monk Hua Bane The Main Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Hu Huh Bane Bane became the Monk Hu Bane Manka Hu Bane Da Manka Hu, which has been translated into 12 languages and is publicly available. The petition stated that the book received an official support from the Chief Minister’s Office of Uttar Pradesh and the film provides a respectable and fact-based depiction of the Chief Minister’s public life.
Arguing that CBFC’s delay and opaque conduct violates their constitutional rights, the petitioners invited Article 14, 19 (1) (A), 19 (G), and 21 of the Constitution, citing violating their rights of equality, free speech, profession and personal freedom.
Published – July 17, 2025 10:42 pm IST
