The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) informed the Bombay High Court on Thursday that it will take a decision within two working days regarding the certification of the film Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi.
The filmmakers had moved the High Court, requesting a prompt decision on their certification application. The court proceedings were heard by a division bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Dr. Neela Gokhale.
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Senior counsel Abhay Khandeparkar, representing the CBFC, assured the court that a final decision would be made within two working days. Upon this assurance, the court closed the matter without addressing the issue on its merits.
"Nothing survives for consideration now. Needless to state that the decision taken by the CBFC will have to be communicated to the petitioners on the same day. We make it clear, we have not commented on the merits of the matter," the bench observed.
The film in question is based on the book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, authored by Shantanu Gupta. The book narrates the life journey of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and serves as the inspiration behind the film.
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In the plea filed before the court, the filmmakers challenged a condition imposed by the CBFC, which asked them to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) of Uttar Pradesh.
"The Petitioner is further aggrieved by the CBFC's erroneous, extraneous and baseless demand for a NOC from the CMO of Uttar Pradesh — despite there being no such requirement existing under the statute i.e. Cinematograph Act or the Rules framed thereunder. It is pertinent to note that such an erroneous requirement / request is not only extremely prejudicial to the professional interests of the Petitioner but also detrimental to its financial interests," the petition stated.
The filmmakers called this demand from the CBFC "irrational, unreasonable and illegal", alleging that it is being used as a tool to delay the release of the film Ajey, which is scheduled for theatrical release on August 1, 2025.
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"It is also a matter of fact and record that the book which forms the foundational inspiration for the motion picture 'Ajey', has been officially endorsed by the CMO, Uttar Pradesh. This official recognition is a clear testament to the bona fide intentions of the author and the truthful, respectful, and inspiring portrayal of the life and public leadership of a prominent contemporary political figure. It is submitted that the purpose of the film is not only to depict the journey of a leader in public service but also to motivate and inspire the youth of the nation through a narrative grounded in fact and integrity," the petitioners further stated.
The court made it clear that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits of the petition but directed that the CBFC must ensure its decision is shared with the petitioners on the same day it is made.