The Allahabad High Court at Lucknow on 2 September 2025 presided over by Justices Sangeeta Chandra and Brij Raj Singh, dismissed a writ petition filed by two Advocates seeking to restrain the release and exhibition of the film Jolly LLB 3 and to remove its song “Bhai Vakeel Hai” from digital platforms. The Petitioners had also prayed for revocation of the film’s CBFC certification and for directions to frame guidelines preventing the portrayal of the judiciary and the legal profession in a derogatory manner. They argued that the trailers and songs of the film scandalised the judiciary, demeaned Advocates, and amounted to contempt of court, thereby discouraging law students and undermining the justice delivery system.
The Court noted the preliminary objection raised on behalf of the respondents that the petition was not maintainable, as the petitioners had not first approached the CBFC or the competent authorities under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 or the IT Rules, 2021, and that a writ of mandamus could not be issued without exhausting such statutory remedies.
The Bench, having viewed the trailers of the film and the lyrics of the impugned song, found nothing objectionable or derogatory to the legal profession that could justify judicial interference. It therefore held that no ground had been made out for exercise of writ jurisdiction and accordingly dismissed the petition, directing that there would be no order as to costs.
Appearances:
For Petitioners: Advs. Rishab Khare and Anadi Chitranshi
For Respondents: Advs- S.B. Pandey, Sr. Adv. & DSGI with Varun Pandey, Anadi Chitranshi, ASGI
