Udaipur Files: Film cannot be exhibited without re-certification, says Delhi HC while deferring the hearing
The Delhi High Court on Monday deferred hearing in the petitions challenging Centre’s clearance of the film Udaipur Files, which is caught up in controversy, with Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay urging all sides to argue “with ease” and not get “overwhelmed.”
The matter was taken up by a Bench also comprising of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.
The petitions have been filed by Mohammed Javed, one of the accused in the Udaipur beheading case, and Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani.
Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy appeared for Javed, while an adjournment was sought on behalf of Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for Jamiat, as he was engaged before the Supreme Court in a part-heard matter.
Appearing for the CBFC, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma informed the Court that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has approved the film with six cuts and a disclaimer, pursuant to the Centre’s July 21 order under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act.
When the Chief Justice asked the Counsels whether the re-certification of the film was done or not.
Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, representing the film’s producers, submitted that the application for re-certification had been made and the updated certificate was awaited.
CJ Upadhyay noted that the film cannot be exhibited without re-certification and remarked that there was no urgency to the matter. “Let’s hear all of you day after tomorrow,” the Court said, posting the matter for Wednesday, July 30.
“This could have been done in two minutes, but it’s only because everybody is so overwhelmed. Please refrain. That’s my request to all,” the Chief Justice said before rising.
The Court will now consider the pleas on July 30.
Notably, on June 25, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain the petitions seeking a stay on the film's release and directed all parties to approach the Delhi High Court. Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia in a sharp defence of the movie before the Court had, urged the Bench to reject petitions seeking a stay on its release. “Every time truth is shown, someone acts like a censor,” Bhatia had submitted, calling the attempt to block the release a case of “hypersensitivity syndrome.”
On July 24, the SGl Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Government had strongly defended the film’s release, stating it was “crime-focused, not community-targeted” and had undergone substantial modifications in line with certification norms. Earlier, on July 21, the SG had informed the Bench that orders had already been passed in the revision petition. "A step more would be infringing upon that process, is my personal opinion" he cautioned. On July 16, the Court had deferred hearing on pleas, it decided to wait for the outcome of ongoing proceedings before the Central Government on a revision petition under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act.
Interestingly, on July 15, the Supreme Court had agreed to hear on July 16, a petition filed by an accused Mohammad Javed, in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case seeking stay on release of movie “The Udaipur Files: Kanhaiyalal Tailor Murder”, and on July 14, the Supreme Court had agreed to list a plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s interim stay order.
Earlier, on July 9, the High Court had directed the producer of Udaipur Files, Amit Jani, to arrange a private screening of the movie and its trailer for all counsel of both parties, after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had informed the court that it had mandated 40 to 50 cuts before granting certification. The High Court had also clarified that the manner in which the case against release had been reported in media was not what truly happened in the hearing before the Supreme Court, with portals reporting that the court had asked for it to be released.
Stay on the release of the film Udaipur Files had received strong criticism from Kanhaiya Lal’s son, Yash Sahu.
Case Title: Mohammed Javed v. UOI and Maulana Arshad Madani v. UOI & Ors.
Hearing Date: July 28, 2025
Bench: Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela