Overview
- Students at NALSAR University of Law organised and screened the 60-minute documentary Prisoner No. 626710 is Present without university permission on Wednesday evening, and the administration says the event was unauthorised.
- The film remains uncertified by the Central Board of Film Certification and the CBFC has warned that public exhibition of an uncertified film would violate the Cinematograph Act unless an exemption is granted.
- Organisers told reporters the event was restricted to students and argued the screening fell under an educational exception in the Copyright Act, while critics and some student groups had earlier pushed for cancellations at other campuses.
- Earlier this month planned screenings were cancelled at IIIT-Hyderabad and NLSIU Bengaluru and IIIT-H issued disciplinary warnings to eight students linked to a proposed showing, showing growing administrative pressure on campus events.
- About 30 to 40 students attended the NALSAR screening despite rain, organisers said, and the event could prompt more student-led showings or further university disciplinary and legal responses as the certification dispute continues.