Controversy related to Diljit Dosanjh Satluj Is becoming intense. Now a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging the sudden removal of the film from the streaming platform Zee5 and demanding its reinstatement across the country.
Sutlej controversy deepens: PIL filed in Punjab and Haryana High Court on removal of Diljit Dosanjh’s film from ZEE5
The PIL has been filed by Sharwan Singh, naming the Central Government, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Punjab Government, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited and ZEE5 as respondents. The petition questions why the film, which is based on the life and work of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Kalra, was removed from the platform without any judicial, legal or government direction.
The petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India argues that it should be removed Satluj Violates the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. It further argues that the explanation citing only “present circumstances” is vague and fails to give any concrete reason for the removal of the film.
The PIL also raises concerns over the rights of paid subscribers, stating that viewers who have purchased access to content on streaming platforms deserve a transparent explanation for the sudden removal of the film. According to the petition, viewers have been left without any official justification due to the lack of clarity despite paying for the service.
are demanding the restoration of SatlujThe petition claims that the film is entirely based on material already available in the public domain and does not disclose any confidential or classified information. It further said that the events depicted in the film have been previously examined by the Supreme Court, various other courts, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and other official proceedings, making the content a matter of public record.
The matter is expected to come up for hearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the coming days.
For those who are unaware, Satlujwhich was previously titled Punjab ’95After a long battle between CBFC and many organizations it finally premiered on ZEE5 on 3 July. However, the film was unexpectedly removed from the streaming platform two days later, on July 5, sparking widespread debate and criticism over its sudden removal.
