The fate of Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder still hangs in balance as it has come into the hands of the Central government after a second round of litigation. Following the Delhi high court’s directions that the Centre did not have the authority to order fresh cuts in the film after it was certified by the CBFC, the government on August 1 withdrew its directions for six additional cuts in the controversial film based on the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal.
The Centre informed the Delhi high court bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela that it would examine the matter afresh within the provisions of section 6 of the Cinematograph Act as the HC repeatedly underlined procedural infirmity in the government’s earlier decision to order new cuts. The bench was hearing two petitions challenging the Centre’s decision to allow the film’s release after ordering six more cuts.
Taking note of the Centre’s revised stand, the court directed the parties to the plea to appear before the government on August 4 and make their submissions. “After hearing the parties, an appropriate decision as per the law should be taken by the revisional authority on the revision petitions by August 6,” the high court bench said. The producers had submitted that the film was scheduled for release on August 8.
Earlier in the day, the court asked the Central government as to the authority under which it had ordered six additional cuts in the film while exercising its revisional powers. Directing the Centre’s counsel to take instructions from the authorities, the bench heard the matter again in the post-lunch session. The Centre’s counsel then informed the court that the government would withdraw the order, revisit the decision and then pass a fresh order in the matter in accordance with the provisions of the law.
