The Delhi High Court has ordered a temporary stay on the release of the controversial film ‘Udaipur Files’, which is based on the 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The decision was made during a hearing on Thursday, where a bench led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal directed that the release be postponed until the Union government examines a revision plea filed against the film’s CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) approval. The petitioners, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani, argued that the film could inflame communal tensions and disrupt public harmony if released without further scrutiny.

The petitioners contended that the CBFC’s decision to certify the film violated Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which bars the public exhibition of content that could potentially provoke violence or disturb peace and order. The court acknowledged the seriousness of these claims and allowed both the petitioners and members of the public to file formal revision pleas under Section 6 of the same act within two days. Section 6 grants the Centre authority to suspend or revoke a film’s certification. The Centre has been instructed to consider these pleas within a week and provide the film’s producer an opportunity to be heard.

During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma informed the court that the CBFC had initially suggested several cuts to the film, which were implemented by the producers before certification. The court had earlier asked for a private screening of the film and its trailer for the counsels involved, which was arranged on Wednesday. While the court has not yet ruled on the merits of the certification challenge, this temporary stay reflects the judiciary’s caution in handling content with potential communal sensitivity. The next hearing is expected to determine the fate of the film’s release based on the Centre’s response to the revision petitions.