A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court in connection with the upcoming film – “Jayeshbhai Jordaar”, which was scheduled to release on 13th May 2022.

The Hon’ble Delhi High Court on 10th May 2022 disposed of a Public Interest litigation which sought deletion of a scene from the upcoming film Jayeshbhai Jordaar. The petition was disposed off without allowing the Petitioner’s prayer for the deletion of the said scene, in terms of Yash Raj Film’s statement to insert an appropriate disclaimer at the relevant portions of the scene that was the subject matter of the trailer and the Petition.

Accordingly, the film, Jayeshbhai Jordaar has been released without any removal/cuts on the 13th of May, as scheduled. Mr. Jayant Mehta, Senior Advocate appeared on behalf of Yash Raj Films. TMT Law Practice team led by Abhishek Malhotra, Managing Partner, Naomi Chandra, Partner and Sanya Dua, Senior Associate represented Yash Raj Films.

The theme of the movie is to sensitize the viewers towards an important social message to stop female foeticide. In communicating the message, it was pivotal to show the social evil that is sought to be addressed. One of the scenes in the film, which shows the conduct of an ultrasound upon the protagonist’s wife, was made subject matter of the PIL. While the petitioner categorically admitted to the positive cause of ‘Save Girl Child’ being promoted in the Film, it was however averred that such a scene may mislead the masses into thinking that pre-natal determination of sex is permissible.

As the Film had already been approved by the Censor Board with insertion of a disclaimer, which was inserted in the beginning of the film, the Hon’ble Court was hesitant to agree to the Petitioner’s prayer to remove/excise the scene altogether. As Respondent No. 4 – Yash Raj Films agreed, without prejudice to its rights and contentions, to insert the disclaimer appearing in the beginning of the film (“Pre-natal sex determination test is a punishable offence”), in the relevant scene/s as well, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court disposed of the PIL by recording the said statement.