Panorama Films for IFFI 2009: interim stay lifted

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court comprising Chief Justice S.R .Bannurmath and Justice A.K.Basheer on Tuesday stayed a single Judge’s order restraining the Government of India in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Directorate of Film Festivals from publishing the results of the selection of films made to the Indian panorama for the 40th International Film Festival of India, 2009, to be held in Panaji, Goa from November 23. In the appeal the Directorate contended that as per the existing regulations any dispute arising between the producer and the Directorate of Film Festivals shall be referred to the Secretary , Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt.of India whose decision shall be final. In this case instead of approaching the Secretary I&B first, the petitioner had filed a petition before the High Court directly.