On Thursday, the Delhi High Court halted legal action against Sony Pictures (Culver Max Entertainment), which was accused of airing a programme that had offensive language directed towards the “Dhobi” group.
The temporary order was granted by Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar, who also declared that the stay will be in effect until the matter’s next hearing on January 15, 2024.
In response to a trial court judgement summons the firm via its managing director, Narinder Pal, for an infraction under Section 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act), Culver Max Entertainment filed an appeal with the High Court.
Section 3(1)(u) of the SC/ST Act punishes a person for promoting enmity, ill-will or hatred against the members of the SC/ST community.
The trial court had issued summons to Sony as well as other accused on October 19, 2023.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Devender Kumar Jangala of the Patiala House Court had taken cognisance of the offence under Section 3(1)(u) of the SC/ST Act and had directed the accused to appear before the court on December 2.
This prompted the plea before the High Court.
Senior Advocate N Hariharan appeared for Culver Max and told the Court that the FIR was in relation to the dialogue “Do kaudi ka dhobi” uttered by one of the characters in episode 33 of the show ‘Pushpa Impossible’ telecast on Sony SAB TV.
Hariharan said that the trial court has issued summons to the company which is not permissible under Section 3(1)(u) of the SC/ST Act.
He said that under the said Section, only a person who is not a member of the SC/ST community can be prosecuted but here a company is involved and a company cannot be a member of any community.
The Court considered the case and stayed the proceedings with regard to Sony. It clarified that the stay is only with regards to the company and not other accused which includes the actors, the writer and producer of the show.
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