The Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) has been dissolved by the Ministry of Law and Justice. Constituted in 1983, the FCAT has proved crucial in the release of many films as filmmakers approach the body to appeal against CBFC orders.
With the FCAT being dissolved, filmmakers will now have to approach the High Court directly for redressal of grievances. Several actors and filmmakers took to Twitter to express disappointment. Fimmaker Vishal Bhardwaj called it a 'sad day for cinema' and Hansal Mehta questioned if the already burdened high courts had time to address film certification grievances.
Such a sad day for cinema
— Vishal Bhardwaj (@VishalBhardwaj) April 6, 2021
FILM CERTIFICATION APPELLATE TRIBUNAL ABOLISHED | 6 April, 2021
https://t.co/MoqSGROdLP
Do the high courts have a lot of time to address film certification grievances? How many film producers will have the means to approach the courts? The FCAT discontinuation feels arbitrary and is definitely restrictive. Why this unfortunate timing? Why take this decision at all?
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) April 7, 2021
“The FCAT discontinuation feels arbitrary and is definitely restrictive. Why this unfortunate timing? Why take this decision at all?,” Mehta said.
In the recent past, FCAT has been instrumental in granting clearance for films like Lipstick Under My Burkha, Udta Punjab among others.
