Amid CBFC concerns, NLSIU drops screening of documentary on activist Umar Khalid

National Law School, University of India, Bengaluru. | Photo credit: File photo

The Law and Society Committee (LawSoc) at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) decided to drop the screening of a documentary on activist Umar Khalid after a lengthy discussion with the Student Bar Association, university administration and faculty members on Friday (September 18) evening, NLSIU students said.

A student told The Hindu, “The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) recently pointed out that a documentary film, Prisoner No: 626710 is Present, by filmmaker Lalit Vachani, is not certified. The screening of this documentary violates the Cinematography Act unless a specific exemption has been obtained. Therefore, the university management and the SBA have come to a decision to refrain from screening it.”

However, the LawSoc committee is organizing a discussion series that started on Saturday (September 19) on various topics related to political prisoners, criminal justice, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other similar laws in the country.

Another student said, “The discussion series is called ‘The Criminal Justice Conversations’ where students, researchers and faculty members will engage with the interactions between crime, state power and society. The first conversation in the series is on ‘UAPA: Bail and Beyond’ with Radhika Chitkara; we will discuss the history, scheme and impact of anti-terrorism laws like the UAPA on political freedom.”

“If not law students, who will discuss and understand the legal part of the UAPA and such laws prevailing in the country?” the student asked.

As news of the cancellation of the documentary’s screening broke, Abhinandan Mirji of the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad said in a statement, “Academic freedom cannot be used to protect subversive agendas aimed at national sovereignty. While ABVP believes in vibrant campus spaces, open discussions, freedom of expression and academic freedom, it can never be used as a sovereign integrity, sovereignty. security of our nation. Specifically, a premier legal institution must never become a platform for individuals associated with glorifying attacks on our nation or advocating the secession and fragmentation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr. Mirji added, “We will send a formal email to the CBFC to restrict the screening of this documentary in public places by various other organizations. However, it is left to the administration of a particular state or city to allow such screening or not. We will also meet the CBFC offices in Bengaluru on Monday (September 21) to express concerns about the screening.”

The LawSoc committee suggested screening the documentary on September 14, which is Political Prisoners’ Day. However, the screening was postponed after the ABVP raised an objection to the screening. On the same day, a small group of law students organized a reading of a letter written by Mr. Khalid in prison.

Meanwhile, the ABVP has written an email to four Union ministers seeking an inquiry into the high-level administration of the university and the screening of the documentary. On 16 September, an ABVP delegation met Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in Bengaluru and submitted a letter to screen the documentary at NLSIU and other educational venues.

Published – 19 Sep 2026 20:46 IST