Centre to take fresh call on Udaipur Files after Delhi High Court questions cuts

New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 1, 2025 17:45 IST

The Delhi High Court on Friday ordered the Central government to re-evaluate Udaipur Files, a film linked to the 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal, after questioning whether the Centre can order edits and cuts under its revisional jurisdiction. The court instructed that the reassessment be completed by August 6, urging compliance with existing legal norms.

The court's order came after the government stated it would withdraw a previous directive that had permitted the film's release with specific cuts. The court stressed the importance of adhering to the Centre's revisional jurisdiction under the Cinematograph Act, which governs the certification and release of films in India.

During the court proceedings, the Additional Solicitor General (ASG), appearing for the government, said they were withdrawing the order. “We are withdrawing only because the format has been questioned,” the ASG stated. The Centre added that it would reconsider the matter and take an appropriate decision.

“To say that we recommended cuts—where do you derive this power? Where is your authority to make a recommendation to the Board to revise? Is there any authority available to you?” the court earlier asked.

The court examined the Central government's jurisdiction under the Cinematograph Act, noting that it may only issue general principles under Section 5(2) of the Cinematograph Act or declare a film unfit for certification. The limitations of the government's authority were a focal point of the court’s scrutiny, with an emphasis on ensuring that any action taken remained within the bounds of the Act.

"The only authority available to you is that you can issue general principles under Section 5(2) and the other power is sec 6(2). You can only say no, this film is unfit to be certified after consideration," the bench noted.

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed all parties to submit their views to the Centre by August 4, paving the way for a timely decision ahead of the film's scheduled release on August 8.

The court instructed the revisional authorities to conclude their decision by Wednesday without any delays.

Questioning the Centre's earlier directive of suggesting six cuts to the film, Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, counsel for one of the accused in the case said, "The Central government cannot suggest cuts, modify dialogue, disclaimer, basically become film board like in this case. The Central government does not have the statutory power to become a master director of this film by saying 'remove certain dialog, remove certain disclaimers, use these words in the disclaimer, change the content of this, I'm going to make a few cuts and you release the film."

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