Allahabad High Court Junks Plea To Halt Release Of Jolly LLB- 3 Over Alleged Objectionable Portrayal Of Judiciary

The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a Writ Petition seeking halting of release of the Akshay Kumar- Arshad Warsi starrer Jolly LL.B.-3 on grounds of alleged objectionable portrayal of judiciary.

The Division Bench of Justice Sangeeta Chandra and Justice Brij Raj Singh observed, "We have also gone through the alleged three official trailers/teasers of Jolly LL.B.-3, in which according to the petitioners, are derogatory to the legal profession and tend to lower the dignity of the Court in the eyes of a common man and we did not find any objectionable matter to warrant interference by this Court. We have also gone through the lyrics of the song "Bhai Vakeel Hai" and we do not find anything which may interfere in the practice of the legal profession by genuine Advocates."

The Petitioner was represented by Advocate Rishab Kahare, while the Respondents were represented by Senior Advocate SB Pandey and the Deputy Solicitor General of India.

Counsel for the Petitioner had argued that the trailer of the film Jolly LL.B.-3 depicts/portrays the legal profession in a derogatory manner and from the same, it is evident that opposite parties only for the purpose of profit have tried to shown the judiciary in a scandalous manner; thus attempting to lower its dignity in the eyes of a common man, which amounts to the Contempt of Court and defamation of the institution.

It was submitted that the trailer and the songs being widely circulated on YouTube and other social media platforms have already begun to prejudice the minds of the practicing Advocates, causing grave injury to the judiciary. The Counsel averred that the Central Board of Film Certification violates its statutory duty under Rules 5-A and 5-B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 by permitting certification of the material that scandalizes the judiciary and is against the public order or decency. It was her contention that the derogatory portrayal of the Advocates violates their dignity as officers of the Court, affecting their ability to discharge their professional duties effectively under the Advocates Act, 1961.

It was further contended that derogatory portrayal in the Jolly LL.B. series discourages persons from joining the legal profession and create disillusionment among law students, thereby affecting the future of the justice delivery system.

The Deputy Solicitor General of India had raised a preliminary objection regarding the maintainability of the Writ Petition on the ground that this Petition prays for a Mandamus to be issued to the opposite parties without there being any representation first to Opposite Party No.2 made by the Petitioners asking them to perform their statutory duty and there is no inaction on the part of the official opposite parties in performing their statutory duty as has been alleged in the Writ Petition.

Finding weight in the same, the Court pointed out that the Petitioners have not yet approached any authority as given under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The Petition was accordingly dismissed.

Cause Title: Jay Vardhan Shukla And Another vs. Union Of India (2025:AHC-LKO:52265-DB)

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