Case 25 of 30 in Law Easy's Media Law series. Indibly Creative Pvt. Ltd. v. Government of West Bengal, Supreme Court of India, decided 2019.
FACTS
The Bengali political satire Bhobishyoter Bhoot, directed by Anik Dutta, received a UA certificate. Days before its February 2019 release in Kolkata, a senior police officer wrote to the producers demanding a special screening. The day after release the film was pulled from almost all theatres, though no law authorised this.
WHAT THE COURT HELD
In April 2019, in a judgment by Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, the Supreme Court held that the state had used its police to stop a certified film, an unlawful and unconstitutional restraint. It stressed the state's positive duty to protect free speech and ordered the state to pay 20 lakh rupees as compensation to the producers and 1 lakh rupees as costs.
EXAM POINT
Courts look at the real effect of official conduct, not only at written orders. Informal pressure can violate freedom of expression.
PREVIOUS CASE: Viacom 18 Media v. Union of India -
https://youtu.be/pAr0NCYUV5w
NEXT CASE: Tata Press Ltd. v. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. -
https://youtu.be/4gzgLwllKaE
FULL PLAYLIST (all 30 cases in order):
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY-t71WbMh6k
COMPLETE LECTURE (all 30 cases, 1 hour 52 minutes):
https://youtu.be/8AFvktrLPM4
Made for LL.B. students and for CLAT PG, UGC NET Law and judiciary exam preparation. Subscribe to Law Easy for the full law course. Notes:
https://www.thelaweasy.com
#MediaLaw #FilmLaw #LawEasy