After nearly a decade of pending legal proceedings, the Bombay High Court will finally hear actor-director Amol Palekar’s long-pending petition challenging the mandatory pre-censorship of stage plays and performances. The final hearing on the petition is scheduled for December 5 before the bench of Justice Riyaz Chagla and Justice Farhan Dubash.
Amol Palekar’s decade-long fight for artistic freedom is about to end as Bombay HC schedules final hearing for December 5, 2025
Palekar, now 80, seeks protection of artistic freedom, arguing against the existing requirement under the Bombay Police Act, which imposes pre-screening of the script and mandatory certification from the Maharashtra State Performance Inquiry Board before any play or public performance is staged.
His lawyer, Anil Anturkar, told the court, “The petitioner is now 85 years old and wants the result, be it positive or negative.” Anturkar stressed the importance of artistic freedom in the contemporary digital age, stating that “there is no censorship of shows and series on OTT platforms,” questioning the logic of continuing mandatory censorship regimes for live performances.
The petition specifically opposes rules made under Section 33(1)(WA) of the Bombay Police Act, which authorizes Commissioners of Police or Superintendents of Police to regulate “places of public entertainment” and demonstrations, including traditional pageants and fairs, requiring script checks to protect “public order, decency or morality”.
Amol Palekar’s petition argued that such pre-censorship amounts to an unconstitutional curtailment of artistic freedom, saying, “This pre-censorship leads to curtailment of artistic freedom. Because of this, many historical plays have not been performed in their original form.”
The Bombay High Court had accepted the petition in 2017 but there was considerable delay in hearing it on merits. It is hoped that this serious issue affecting artists and cultural institutions will be resolved in the upcoming session on 5th December.
The case is being closely watched in the theater community and arts organisations, as the verdict in Palekar’s favor could pave the way for greater freedom and creativity in live stage performances in Maharashtra and potentially across India.
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