SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh High Court today issued notices to Central and State Governments and the Central Board of Film Certification, Mumbai, Maharashtra in a matter seeking directions to frame guidelines for regulation of content being published on Over The Top (OTT) platform on social media. These guidelines seek to prohibit practice of insulting great leaders, freedom fighters, national heroes and honour of the nation on social media, the court said.

The Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court  Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed these orders on a petition filed by Bhupinder Sharma, a practicing advocate in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh. Sharma has alleged that on the OTT platform “Limelight”, a trailer of the movie “Why I killed Gandhi” was released, and the trailer shows that the movie clearly attempts to tarnish the image of the Father of the Nation and at the same time glorifies Nathuram Godse for killing Mahatma Gandhi”.

According to the petitioner, from the very title of the movie it is evident that this is a mischievous attempt by few fundamentalists to justify the “Killing of the Father of Nation”. He has alleged that in the said movie, Nathu Ram Godse has been presented as a hero and saviour notwithstanding the fact that he is a person who stands convicted by Court of law. In independent India after standing trial and after having been found to be guilty on the basis of evidence produced before the Court, the petitioner stated.

The petitioner has alleged that the movie clearly violates all the guidelines issued by the Central Government for regulation of films of the public exhibition under the Cinematographs Act, 1952. The petitioner has prayed to direct the respondents to frame guidelines for prohibiting the practice of insulting our great leaders, freedom fighters, national heroes in contravention to the constitutional provisions.

The Petitioner has prayed to direct the respondent to remove all content of the film “Why I killed Gandhi'' from all online platforms and prohibit any further publication of the film. The petitioner has also prayed to direct the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to bring in force such regulations/guidelines to effectively regulate the content being published on the OTT platform.

The Court directed the respondents to file a reply within three weeks and posted the matter for hearing on 24.03.2022.