‘Jolly LLB 2’ Producer Moves SC Seeking Release Of The Movie

The row over Akshay Kumar starrer movie Jolly LLB 2 has reached the Supreme Court.

Its producers Fox Star Studios today moved the Supreme Court challenging the January 27 order of the Bombay HC order to appoint a three member committee to review the film.

The producers have sought the permission to  release the movie contending that it has already been cleared by the censor board. The plea will be heard Friday.

The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court had asked the committee to find out whether the allegations levelled by petitioner Ajaykumar Waghmare are true.

Waghmare is a practising lawyer from Nanded, who had said that the film is "nothing but an attempt to portray the Indian Legal Profession and Judicial System as a laughing stock to the society at large."

Waghmare said that the characters in Jolly LLB 2 are playing cards and dancing in the premises of the Court of Law which clearly shows disrespect towards judicial discipline, proceedings and ethics. The characters jumping on the judge's dais and fighting in court shows mockery of the court.

Waghmare had formed his opinion after watching the trailers. He also attached a copy of the trailer in his petition as well. However, senior lawyer P M Shah appearing for the filmmaker has quashed the baseless allegations and said that the complete picture of the film cannot be formed on the basis of trailers.

The bench, consisting of justices VM Kanade and Sangitrao Patil had said, "We have seen  the photographs; one of which shows a lawyer jumping on the dais and arguing with the judge. The second photograph shows the judge hiding below the dais and passing some orders by banging the gavel on the table."

With this, the court felt that "prima facie, though the above referred photographs do indicate total disrespect or disregard to the high office of this court, we cannot jump to that conclusion unless the contexts in which these scenes are shown, are examined in their proper perspective".

Thus, the court felt that it is necessary to appoint a committee as amicus curiae to watch the film and submit a report.

With this, the court appointed advocates VJ Dixit and RN Dhord, along with medical officer Dr PR Kanade as amicus curaiaes to watch Jolly LLB 2 on February 1. After the committee's report, the case will be called for hearing on February 3.

This article has been made possible because of financial support from Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation.