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Ajmer | June 9, 2025 — The Rajasthan High Court has dismissed a plea seeking to halt the shooting of Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar’s upcoming film Jolly LLB 3, stating that no legal grounds exist to interrupt production based purely on assumptions or “apprehensions.”
Justice Ashok Jain ruled that a claim cannot proceed based on hypothetical concerns. “The film is still under production. Saying it tarnishes the image of the judiciary is, at this stage, only a suspicion,” the court noted.
Bar Association Alleged Judicial Defamation
The plea had been filed by Ajmer District Bar Association President Chandrabhan Rathore, who alleged that Jolly LLB 3, like its previous installments, aims to damage the reputation of judges and lawyers. He called for an immediate halt to the movie's shooting, which had taken place between April 25 and May 10, 2024, at the Ajmer DRM office.
The film’s cast, including Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi, and director Subhash Kapoor, responded by filing a revision petition in the Rajasthan High Court.
Court Cites Cinematography Act, 1952
The court emphasized that under the Cinematography Act of 1952, any public complaint regarding film content must be raised only after certification by the Censor Board. The judge noted that courts cannot act on assumptions or interfere with film production before the content is even reviewed or released.
“Stopping a movie based on pre-release assumptions is neither justified nor within the court’s jurisdiction,” said Senior Advocate R.K. Agarwal, representing the filmmakers.
He added that if the Censor Board later clears the film, and objections still remain, there are legal provisions for appeals and revisions under the Act.
Bar Association Urges Committee Oversight
While the court sided with the filmmakers, the Ajmer Bar Association insisted the film could compromise the dignity of the judiciary, citing scenes from earlier installments. The association suggested forming a joint committee of judges and lawyers to review the script or scenes beforehand — a request the court did not consider legally viable.
Permission and Payment for Government Location Filming
Legal representatives Adhiraj Modi and Aditya Chaudhary, speaking for the film's team, clarified that all necessary permissions had been obtained for filming at the Ajmer DRM office, a government building. Additionally, the production team paid Rs 25 lakh to Indian Railways for using the location during the shooting period.