The Allahabad High Court at Lucknow has dismissed a writ petition filed by two advocates seeking a ban on the release and screening of the upcoming film Jolly LLB 3. The petitioners argued that the movie’s trailer and a promotional song insult the legal fraternity and lower the dignity of the judiciary. But the bench was not convinced.
Background
The case, Jay Vardhan Shukla and Another vs Union of India & Others, was heard by Justices Sangeeta Chandra and Brij Raj Singh. The petitioners had asked the court to direct the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to stop the film’s release, revoke its certification, and remove the song “Bhai Vakeel Hai” from all platforms. They also demanded a public apology from the film’s director, actors, and producers.
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According to the petitioners, the film’s trailer portrays lawyers in a “scandalous” light, suggesting that the makers were using ridicule for commercial gain. They warned this could discourage law students, tarnish the image of advocates, and even amount to contempt of court.
Court’s Observations
The Union government, represented by the Deputy Solicitor General of India, raised a preliminary objection. He pointed out that the petitioners had not even approached the CBFC or followed procedures under the IT Rules, 2021, which require complaints about online content to be lodged first with the publisher or intermediary.
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“The bench observed, ‘A writ of mandamus cannot be issued unless a representation is first made to the competent authority and either refused or rejected,’” making it clear that the plea was premature.
The judges further noted that they had themselves viewed the three official trailers and the contested song. After this, they remarked, “We did not find any objectionable matter to warrant interference by this Court.” On the lyrics of “Bhai Vakeel Hai”, they found nothing capable of disrupting the professional work of genuine advocates.
Decision
In the end, the court dismissed the writ petition on September 2, 2025, without imposing any costs. With this order, the much-anticipated Jolly LLB 3 faces no legal barrier from the Allahabad High Court, clearing the way for its release.
Case Title: Jay Vardhan Shukla and Another vs Union of India through Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting & Others
Case Number: Writ - C No. 8488 of 2025
Date of Decision: 2 September 2025
