K V LAKSHMANA RAO Vs. REGIONAL CENSOR BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS writ petition has been filed assailing the certification of the Telugu film titled as "english Pellam - East Godavari Mogudu". In the writ affidavit, several instances have been mentioned, by which, Mr. Ravishankar Jandhyala, learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that such scenes are not only indecent but contemptuous and opposed to public morality. The iniplead petitioner is only aggrieved regarding the title "east Godavari Mogudu" and taking the name of the district as objectionable. At the outset, we reject this contention. Merely because it is titled as "east Godavari Mogudu" it cannot be called as offensive and it has to be taken in the sense a movie, is to be understood. As such, we do not see anything objectionable in the title.

(2.) INSOFAR as the scenes said to be objectionable, both visual and dialogues are concerned, after hearing the matter on last Friday, that is, 2-4-1999, we had viewed the picture arranged in a preview theatre in Film Chambers in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, on 3-4-1999. Hearing was resumed yesterday, that is 5-4-1999.

(3.) MR. Ravishanker Jandhyala, learned Counsel for the petitioner enumerates five (5) instances which are objectionable. But we only feel that the last instance, that is, the scene dealing with lady judicial officer alone is objectionable and it is liable to be viewed seriously as it comes within the prohibited norms traceable under Article 19 (2) of the Constitution of India.