OM PAL SINGH HOON Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule.

(2.) The movie in question "Bandit Queen" which has been given 'A' Certificate pursuant to the order of the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (for short 'FCAT') dated August 14, 1995, depicts astory of ordeal and agony of a woman who is shown to have been subjected to atrocities, maltreatment, rape and incarceration. The film is based on the book of the same name by Mala Sen and is directed and produced by the fifth respondent and the third respondent respectively. Facts as appear from the court record and as also from the files produced by the second respondent are:

(3.) By an application dated August 16/17, 1994, the third respondent requested the Board of Film Certification for a certificate under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, (for short 'the Act') to exhibit the film 'Bandit Queen'. The Central Board of Film Certification (for short 'the Board) through a letter of the Regional Office, Bombay, dated September 7, 1994, which was in the nature of a show cause notice, informed the third respondent that the film was viewed by the Examining Committee and the Board had provisionally come to the conclusion that the film was not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition but maybe suitable for public exhibition restricted to adults provided the following excisions/modifications were carried out:-