The Delhi High Court on Thursday stayed the proceedings against Sony Pictures (Culver Max Entertainment) which has been booked for telecasting a show containing derogatory language against the ‘Dhobi’ community. .Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar passed the interim order and said that the stay will remain in force till the next date of hearing of the matter on January 15, 2024..Culver Max Entertainment had approached the High Court against an order of the trial court summoning the company through its Managing Director Narinder Pal for offence under Section 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act).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.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday stayed the proceedings against Sony Pictures (Culver Max Entertainment) which has been booked for telecasting a show containing derogatory language against the ‘Dhobi’ community. .Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar passed the interim order and said that the stay will remain in force till the next date of hearing of the matter on January 15, 2024..Culver Max Entertainment had approached the High Court against an order of the trial court summoning the company through its Managing Director Narinder Pal for offence under Section 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act).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.