Patna: The release of Jolly LLB 3 has sparked fresh controversy in Bihar, with the Patna High Court directing the removal of a song that advocates claimed demeaned the legal profession.
Neeraj Kumar, a Patna High Court lawyer, filed a public interest litigation objecting to the song Bhai Vakeel Hai and several scenes, arguing that they mocked lawyers and judges and undermined the sanctity of the court. Following a hearing, a notice was issued to the filmmakers, and the song was subsequently removed from cinemas across the state.
“The court is a temple of justice. To disparage it is an attack on the very soul of democracy,” Kumar said. He added that films depicting the judiciary should be screened by retired judges and Bar Council members before release, just as films featuring the armed forces are reviewed by defence authorities.
Fellow advocate Manohar Prasad welcomed the removal of the song but said objectionable dialogues remain in the film. He insisted the ban should extend nationwide, not just in Bihar.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 17, with advocates expected to demand the appearance of the film’s producers, directors, and members of the Censor Board. “The film has tarnished the image of our profession. We now expect the judiciary to take strict action,” Prasad said.
