New Delhi, Feb 10 (NationPress) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea aimed at halting the release and streaming of the forthcoming Netflix film 'Ghooskhor Pandat', after the platform indicated it would revise the film’s title and had already eliminated all promotional materials from social media.

A single-judge panel led by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav acknowledged the assertions made by Netflix that the contested title would no longer be utilized and that all promotional content featuring the previous name had been removed.

Noting that no further instructions were necessary based on the streaming service's position, the Delhi High Court terminated the petition.

The petition, lodged by lawyer Vineet Jindal, contended that the intended release of the film was problematic because the title 'Ghooskhor Pandat' was defamatory and offensive to communal sentiments, alleging that it maliciously links the term 'Pandat' to corruption and bribery, thereby tarnishing the dignity and reputation of the Brahmin community.

In the writ, petitioner Mahender Chaturvedi argued that 'Pandat' is “historically, culturally, and religiously linked to the Brahmin community and its Acharyas, symbolizing scholarship, ethical behavior, spiritual guidance, and moral authority,” asserting that its inclusion in the disputed title amounts to “collective defamation, stereotyping, and vilification of an entire religious and social community.”

“The contested title wrongfully associates the term 'Pandat' with corruption and bribery, thereby undermining the dignity, reputation, and profession of the petitioner and his community,” the plea emphasized.

Moreover, the petition claimed that the proposed content breaches Articles 14, 21, and 25 of the Constitution, arguing that while the right to free speech under Article 19(1)(a) is constitutionally safeguarded, it does not encompass hate speech, defamation, or material that disrupts communal harmony.

“The right to free speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) is not absolute and does not cover hate speech, defamation, or content that disturbs communal harmony and public order,” the petition stated.

It was also claimed that the lack of adequate regulatory oversight in the OTT space allows platforms to promote “sensationalism and vilification of communities for commercial gain,” and that inaction would signify a failure of constitutional responsibility to uphold fraternity, secularism, and public order.

Actor Manoj Bajpayee responded to the concerns regarding the film's title, clarifying that the movie is not intended as a commentary on any specific community.