The Central Board of Film Certification on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that a certificate will be issued to Kangana Ranaut's film "Emergency" if certain cuts are made, as recommended by its revising committee.
The movie, which was initially slated for a September 6 release, has been embroiled in a tussle with the censor board for non-issuance of a certificate for its release.
Ranaut, who has also produced the film and is in lead the role of former prime minister late Indira Gandhi, accused the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) of stalling certification to delay the release.
The biographical drama is caught up in controversy after some Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, objected, accusing it of misrepresenting the community and getting historical facts wrong.
A division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla last week came down heavily on the CBFC for not taking a decision on the issuance of a certificate for the movie.
The HC had then said the censor board cannot sit on a fence and has to take its decision one way or the other, as it would otherwise amount to curtailing the freedom of speech and expression.
It had asked the CBFC to take its decision by September 25.
The co-producer of the movie Zee Entertainment Enterprises had approached HC, seeking a direction to the CBFC to issue a certificate for the movie "Emergency" directed by Kangana Ranaut.
On Thursday, the bench asked the CBFC if it has some "good news" for the movie.
CBFC's counsel Abhinav Chandrachud told the court that the revising committee of the board has taken its decision.
The committee has suggested some cuts before the certificate can be issued and the movie can be released," he said.
Senior counsel Sharan Jagtiani, appearing for Zee Entertainment, sought time to take a decision on whether or not the cuts can be made.
The bench then posted the matter for further hearing on September 30.
Zee Entertainment's plea was that the CBFC had issued a certificate for the movie but was not releasing it.
Last week, Zee Entertainment alleged that the certificate was being withheld due to political reasons and that the elections in Haryana were nearing.
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