Akshay Kumar’s upcoming film Jolly LLB 2 made it to the headlines a few days ago when a group of lawyers claimed the movie showed their profession and the judicial system in a bad light. They demanded that the makers drop LLB from the film’s name. In a new development, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court has weighed into the matter. The bench on Monday appointed two amicus curiae to watch the film and see if it belittled the judicial system of the country.
For those who are not aware with the term amicus curiae, we are here to help. An amicus curiae is an impartial adviser to the court.
Notably, the film was approved by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) without any cuts.
As a part of the bench’s order, lawyers R.N. Dhorde and V.J. Dixit will watch the movie on Wednesday and submit their reviews by Friday, the day of petition’s hearing.
Akshay Kumar in Jolly LLB2
(Courtesy: Twitter| @akshaykumar)
It all started when a lawyer from Nanded, Ajaykumar Waghmare, approached the court to scrap the word LLB from the film’s title. He also wanted few scenes to be deleted like the one in which lawyers were shown playing cards in the court premises and the judge hiding under the dais to save himself.
The petitioner who approached the court through lawyers V.D. Salunke and Pandirao Anerao, said the trailer pointed out that the film is an attempt to malign the Indian legal profession and the judicial system.
Akshay Kumar in Jolly LLB2
(Courtesy: TYwitter| @akshaykumar)
The petition read:
With what is shown in the trailers, it is established that the actions and words used by the characters in the movie are defamatory in nature and have all the ingredients to tarnish the reputation, dignity and status of the Indian legal profession and judiciary. Freedom of speech and expression is subject to reasonable restrictions in relation to contempt of court as provided in Article 19 (2) the Constitution of India. The trailers of the movie are nothing but an attempt to project the Indian judiciary and legal profession in a derogatory manner, which fall under the definition of the Criminal Contempt under section 2 (C) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
Akshay Kumar in Jolly LLB2
(Courtesy: TYwitter| @akshaykumar)
The petition named nine respondents, including the Union and state governments, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Fox Star Studio India, writer and director Subhash Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Annu Kapoor.
Jolly LLB 2 is slated for a release on 19 February and stars Huma Qureshi opposite Akshay Kumar.
