A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding the reinstatement of the film ‘Satluj’, starring Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh, on the Zee5 streaming service. The movie, which delves into the life and demise of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, was unexpectedly removed from the platform just two days post-release.
Previously, ‘Satluj’ faced a three-year delay as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) withheld its theatrical release approval pending modifications. Following its brief online release and subsequent withdrawal from Zee5, the film has consistently remained in the limelight. The Indian government has also established a committee to scrutinize its content.
Sharwan Singh, a resident of Punjab and a Zee5 subscriber, has approached the High Court, demanding the film’s reinstatement. He asserts that the removal infringes upon the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution.
The petition argues, “The sudden removal of the film, absent any statutory order, judicial directive, or lawful authority, has not only suppressed the public’s fundamental right to receive information and artistic expression but has also deprived many subscribers of content they have paid for.”
According to the PIL, the unexpected withdrawal of the film, which is based on documented historical events and the life of a human rights defender adjudicated by constitutional courts, raises significant concerns about transparency, freedom of artistic expression, and potential undisclosed government interference.
The petition maintains that ‘Satluj’ is a biographical portrayal grounded in the factual narrative of the late Jaswant Singh Khalra’s life, and it poses no threat to national sovereignty or public order. The petitioner contends the PIL is valid under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution, which allows for the enforcement of fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 19(1)(a).
The plea highlights critical issues of public interest, including freedom of speech, the public’s right to information, artistic liberty, transparency in governmental actions, and adherence to the rule of law.
Singh further argues that the removal of the film from Zee5 has unjustly deprived numerous subscribers of access to content they have paid for. “Such deprivation, without legal authority, is arbitrary, unreasonable, and contrary to the constitutional mandates of fairness, transparency, and the rule of law,” the plea asserts.
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The petitioner is represented by Advocates Hakam Singh, Ajayvir Singh Randhawa, Shruti, and Anmol Jeevan Singh Gill.
