Supreme Court rejects petition from Jana Nayagan producers, directs Madras High Court to decide by January 20

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has rejected a petition filed by KVN Productions seeking permission for the immediate release of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan. The bench, headed by Justice Deepankar Dutta, questioned why the producers approached the apex court while the matter is already pending before the Madras High Court.

Representing the producers, Mukul Rotagi argued that delaying the release would cause significant financial losses and requested that the high court hearing, scheduled for January 21, be advanced. However, the Supreme Court did not grant any favourable relief and directed the Madras High Court to finalise the case by January 20.

The dispute over Jana Nayagan’s release began after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) suggested ten edits to the film. On January 9, Justice P T Asha of the Madras High Court had directed the CBFC to grant certification, setting aside the board’s decision to refer the film to a revising committee. The single judge held that once the CBFC had decided to certify the film, its chairperson could not refer the matter for review.

Hours later, a division bench of Chief Justice M M Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, acting on a CBFC appeal, granted an interim stay on the single judge’s order. The bench observed that the CBFC had not been given sufficient opportunity to file its reply and posted the matter for January 21. The CBFC, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General A R L Sundaresan, argued that its January 6 referral to the revising committee had not been challenged before the single judge.

Jana Nayagan, widely promoted as actor Vijay’s last film before his political entry through Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was originally scheduled for a Pongal release on January 9. The Supreme Court’s directive now places the final decision with the Madras High Court, with a hearing set for January 20.