Many film personalities have expressed their discontent over the Centre’s move to dissolve the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT).
The ministry of law and justice issued a notice that the FCAT has been dissolved with immediate effect.
The statutory body was instituted in 1983 under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 to address the grievances of filmmakers regarding the orders passed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Through FCAT filmmakers could appeal against the certification order of the CBFC, its refusal to certify a movie or the modifications suggested by the board, a report stated.
With this filmmakers will now have to approach the high court directly to address any grievance that they may have.
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta said on Twitter that the Centre’s decision on the abolishing of the tribunal is arbitrary and restrictive.
Other film personalities like Vishal Bharadwaj, Guneet Monga, and Richa Chadha also expressed their displeasure with the decision on social media.
The FCAT had played an instrumental role in the case of Alankrita Shrivastava’s film ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’, which the CBFC had refused to certify.
The statutory body had ordered the CBFC to grant an “A” certificate after suggesting a few edits.