The Allahabad High Court today sought the censor board's response on a PIL seeking direction against clearance to Sunny Deol-starrer 'Mohalla Assi', alleging that the film hurts religious sentiments.
Lucknow bench of justices Arun Tandon and Anil Kumar issued notices to Chairman Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Mumbai and also to the Centre on the PIL, filed by 'Hindu Front For Justice', a group of 11 local lawyers.
The vacation bench directed the counsels of both the respondents to seek instructions for filing their responses also regarding the trailer of the film, which has not yet got certification by the BOFC for exhibition and listed the matter for June 30.
Petitioners sought a direction to ensure that trailer of the film is not exhibited in any manner, in public or on social media, till the time necessary certificate is granted by the BOFC.
The petitioners alleged that from the trailer of the film, it appears that the "producer, director and actors have acted in most irresponsible manner and have degraded, as if intentionally, the cultural background of the religious place 'Kashi'."
It was also alleged that they have "intentionally tried to tarnish the image of Lord Shiva, Hindu saints and women".
Petitioner counsel HS Jain submitted that in the trailer, Lord Shiva has been shown using abusive language.
Jain also submitted that the film is now ready for release in case it obtains necessary certificate from BOFC.
He said that the petitioners have seen the official trailer of the film on 'You Tube' and it is being widely propagated through different modes of communication.
Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, the director, Vinay Tiwari, the producer and actor Sunny Deol along with other actors have been made opposite parties in the petition.
