Jayeshbhai Jordaar: HC Clears Release, Asks For New Disclaimers to Be Added

The court was hearing a plea seeking removal of a scene from Jayeshbhai Jordaar.

Ranveer Singh in first look from Jayeshbhai Jordaar. 

(Photo Courtesy: Instagram)

The Delhi High Court has cleared the theatrical release of Ranveer Singh-starrer Jayeshbhai Jordaar on 13 May. It asked the makers to add new disclaimers. The court was hearing a petition that requested the removal of a scene involving pre-natal sex determination.

A Bar and Bench report quoted the court's order as stating:

"We have also perused the trailer and also the relevant scenes from the movie. We had suggested certain further disclaimers to be displayed in the trailer and also in the movie when the scenes in relation to ultrasound scene and another connected scene is depicted. The learned senior counsel, without prejudice to his submissions, has agreed to depict a further static warning/disclaimer to be depicted during the running of both the scenes."

Justice Naveen Chawla and Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, on the bench, watched the relevant scenes from the movie.

The court added, "A screenshot of such disclaimer is reproduced here. Keeping in view that the film has already been certified and is scheduled to be released on May 13 and the disclaimer that has now been agreed to be shown during the scene in question. The senior counsel submits that similar warning/disclaimer will be depicted on all formats on the trailer and YouTube. He however submits that he will require some time. he assures that the same will be done. The R-4 is bound by the statements made by the senior counsel on its behalf."

Earlier, the High Court had asked the producers of Jayeshbhai Jordaar to not trivialise the illegal practice of sex determination of the foetus, adding such practices can't be show as if they are regular occurrences. Ranveer Singh and Shalini Pandey play lead roles in the film. The film also stars Boman Irani and Ratna Pathak Shah in key roles.

On Monday, the court heard a plea seeking removal of the scene, and asked Yash Raj Films to show the relevant portions. They also said that they won't permit the scene unless they see the context.

During the hearing, the judges also noted that the trailer does not specify that sex determination is illegal. They said, "You see there is nothing to show that the lady is taken clandestinely or that this is not legal or actors are aware (in the scene) that it is an offence. What is coming out is that any pregnant woman can be taken to a centre with a sonogram machine and this can be done in a routine manner."

They added,

"Don't trivialise it to show that anybody can walk into any clinic and get it done. The dramatisation should be that they are aware (that it is illegal) but it is still being done."

Senior advocate Jayant Mehta told the court on behalf of the producers that the "movie is about something illegal" and carries a disclaimer concerning the act in question. However, the court had added that the size of the disclaimer did not make it prominent. They had also pointed out that the trailer does not show the circumstances under which the lady is taken to the clinic.

In response to the petitioner's claims that the movie must not show sex determination of a foetus, the court said that a scene needs to be seen in its context and questioned if the movie was showing the “ill of the society” or advocating adopting techniques of sex determination. “It is like saying you should not show murder or rape because it is a crime. It is the context... If it is shown in the context that it is illegal how can you say? How would you tell a story otherwise”.