The ministry of law and justice of the government of India has abolished the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT). The abolition is with immediate effect. The ministry promulgated an ordinance — The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation And Conditions Of Service) Ordinance, 2021 — on 4th April for the same. This means that producers aggrieved by the decision of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) will now have to approach the high court instead of the FCAT for the redressal of their grievances.
The Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) is a statutory body constituted vide Section 5D of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 by the ministry of information & broadcasting. It is headquartered in New Delhi. The Tribunal is headed by a chairperson who is assisted by four members. A secretary is appointed by the government of India to look after the day-to-day affairs of the FCAT. The Tribunal hears the appeals filed under section 5C of the Cinematograph Act. Under that section, any applicant for a certificate in respect of a film, who is aggrieved by an order of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), can file an appeal before the FCAT directly.
