The Bombay High Court emphasized that the trend of objecting to the release of films must stop.

It asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to make a decision on actor-MP Kangana Ranaut's movie 'Emergency' by Wednesday.

The court was hearing a petition by the movie's co-producer, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, seeking the release of the censor certificate so that the movie can be screened.

The movie, starring Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, and Shreyas Talpade, is based on the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975.

It has faced issues after Sikh organizations alleged that it misrepresents the community.

Sources in the central government mentioned that there is 'some sensitive content' in the movie.

Abhinav Chandrachud, the censor board's counsel, told the court that the decision was based on representations objecting to the movie's release.

He mentioned that some scenes show a polarizing figure making deals with political parties.

Justice BP Colabawalla and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla were told that the accuracy of these scenes needed to be verified.

Justice Colabawalla remarked that 'Emergency' is a movie, not a documentary, and questioned whether the public would believe everything they see in a movie.

He emphasized the importance of creative freedom and stated that it is not for the CBFC to decide whether the movie affects public order.

The CBFC said it needed to send the matter to a revising committee and requested two weeks to decide, but the court refused.

The court noted that enough time had been given to either grant or reject the certificate, but the CBFC had passed the responsibility to the review or revision committee.

The court ordered the CBFC to make a decision by Monday on whether to release the movie or not.

The court stated that the CBFC 'can't sit on the fence' and must take a decision.

The court also highlighted the need to stop the trend of objecting to film releases and questioned the impact on creative freedom and freedom of speech and expression.

At one point, Zee's counsel Venkatesh Dhond mentioned that the CBFC was delaying the decision with an eye on the Haryana elections.

The CBFC responded that the state in question was Punjab, not Haryana.

When the court asked about the political angle, Mr.

Chandrachud said there was none.

However, Mr.

Dhond argued that it would be seen as a BJP MP (Kangana Ranaut) offending a community, and the political apprehension was that the Sikh community would feel the film is anti-Sikh.

The court asked if the ruling party wanted to stop the release of a film by a member of its own party.

The court stated that it was not concerned with elections and noted the significant financial burden of the film.

Earlier, the matter was brought before the Madhya Pradesh High Court when two Sikh organizations filed a Public Interest Litigation.

In response, the Censor Board told the court that the movie had not been issued a certificate, leading to the petition being disposed of.

Later, Zee's counsel informed the high court that the CBFC had told the filmmakers that the certificate was issued but not handed over.

The court remarked that the Madhya Pradesh High Court was 'taken for a ride.

'