The CFSI claimed the film is based on a boy who beats all odds to emerge as a hero.

Bombay high court

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) whether it is going to change its certification policy for children’s film.

The court also directed the CBFC to justify its decision of granting a universal/adult (U/A) certification to a children’s film. The filmmakers of Chidiakhana, which contains 13 violent scenes, informed the court that scenes in question portray the struggles of a boy.

A bench of Justices S.C. Dharmadhikari and G.S. Patel was hearing a petition filed by the Children's Film Society India (CFSI), seeking directions to the CBFC tribunal to issue a universal certificate (U) to its film Chidiakhana.

The CFSI claimed the film is based on a boy who beats all odds to emerge as a hero. The film was to be screened in schools across the country. Therefore, it must have a universal certificate, it said.

However, the CBFC filed an affidavit in the court on Monday stating that the movie was issued the certificate in accordance with the central government’s guidelines on film certification.

“Who appointed the CBFC to decide what can one watch and what one can't watch?” the bench said. The CBFC guidelines on certification were not “in sync” with the current times, it said.

“We are not talking abo-ut children from 1950s or 60s but these are children born in or after 2000,” it said. “Your guidelines on certification should take into account the changing times, and all the exposure that children get,” the bench said. It is likely to take up the matter for further hearing on August 14.