Amid CBFC concerns, NLSIU drops screening of documentary on activist Umar Khalid
NLSIU cancels documentary screening on activist Umar Khalid due to CBFC concerns, sparking discussions on political prisoners and justice.
A student told The Hindu that theThe Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) recently highlighted that the documentary, Prisoner No: 626710 is Present, by filmmaker Lalit Vachani is not certified.
Updated - September 20, 2026 10:39 am IST - Bengaluru
The National Law School of India University in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: File photo
The Law and Society Committee (LawSoc) at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) has decided to drop the documentary screening on activist Umar Khalid following a prolonged discussion with the Student Bar Association, the university administration, and faculty members on Friday (September 18) evening, students from NLSIU said.
A student told The Hindu, “The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has recently highlighted that the documentary, Prisoner No: 626710 is Present, by filmmaker Lalit Vachani is not certified. Screening this documentary violates the Cinematograph Act unless a specific exemption has been obtained. Hence, the university administration and SBA arrived at the decision of dropping the screening.”
However, the LawSoc committee is organising a discussion series, which started on Saturday (September 19), on various topics surrounding political prisoners, criminal justice, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other such laws in the country.
Another student said, “The discussion series is called ‘The Criminal Justice Conversations’, where students, researchers and faculty members will engage in interactions between crime, State power and society. The first conversation in the series is on ‘UAPA: Bail and Beyond’ with Radhika Chitkara; we will discuss the history, scheme and impact of anti-terror laws like the UAPA on political freedoms.”
“If not the law students, who will discuss and understand the legal part of UAPA and such laws prevailing in the country?” the student asked.
As soon as the news of cancellation of the documentary screening trickled in, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s Abhinandan Mirji said in a release: “Academic freedom cannot be used to shield subversive agendas targeting national sovereignty. While ABVP believes in vibrant campus spaces, open discussions, free speech and academic freedom, it can never be used as a shield to promote narratives that challenge the sovereignty, integrity, and security of our nation. Specifically, premier legal institutions must never become platforms for individuals associated with glorifying attacks on our nation or advocating for the secession and fragmentation of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Mr. Mirji added, “We will send a formal email to CBFC about restricting the screening of this documentary in public places by various other organisations. But it is left to the administration of the particular State or city to allow such screenings or not. We will also meet the CBFC authorities in Bengaluru on Monday (September 21) to raise concerns over the screening.”
The LawSoc committee had proposed screening the documentary on September 14, which is Political Prisoners’ Day. However, the screening was postponed after ABVP objected to the screening. On the same day, a small group of law students organised a reading session of a letter written by Mr. Khalid in prison.
Meanwhile, ABVP had written an email to four Union Ministers seeking a high-level inquiry of the university’s administration and screening of the documentary. On September 16, a delegation of ABVP had met Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in Bengaluru and submitted a letter about the screening of the documentary in NLSIU and other education spaces.
Published - September 19, 2026 08:46 pm IST
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