Bombay High Court Seeks CBFC’s Reply on Delay in Certifying Yogi Adityanath-Based Film

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) over an alleged delay in certifying a film said to be based on the life of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The court made it clear that the CBFC is legally bound to process certification requests within the statutory timelines and cannot avoid this responsibility.

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale was hearing a petition filed by Samrat Cinematics, the production house behind the film “Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi”, which is inspired by the book “The Monk Who Became Chief Minister”. The film was scheduled for theatrical release on August 1, but its certification process remains stalled.

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The petition alleges that the CBFC has arbitrarily and unreasonably delayed certification for the film, teaser, trailer, and promotional song, with no justification provided. Senior counsel Ravi Kadam, appearing for the petitioners along with advocates Satatya Anand and Nikhil Aradhe, informed the court that no screening has been scheduled till date despite multiple applications and compliance with procedural requirements.

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The filmmakers first applied for certification on June 5, 2025. As per Rule 37 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, the CBFC must scrutinise such applications within seven days and refer them for screening within 15 days. The petition contends that even after reapplying under the board’s priority scheme and paying triple the standard fee on July 3, a scheduled screening for July 7 was cancelled without explanation.

The petitioners also objected to the CBFC’s reported demand for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office, calling it “erroneous, extraneous, and baseless,” and noting that no such requirement exists under law.

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During the hearing, a CBFC official requested time to engage legal representation. The court granted the request and issued notice to the board, scheduling the next hearing for July 17.

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