Delhi High Court issues notice to makers of biopic on Jaswant Singh Rawat

The Delhi High Court issued a notice on Wednesday to the Centre and the producers of a film based on 1962 Sino-India war martyr, Jaswant Singh Rawat after his brother moved the court claiming copyright violation.

The bench has sought the reply of the respondents by August 8.

The family members of Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for gallantry, have been opposing the making of a film about him, saying the story was a violation of copyright, as well as breach of their privacy.

The petitioner, Vijay Singh Rawat has contended that the family's consent was not taken, nor was the film script provided to them or the central government which had asked for it.

A PIL was earlier moved in the high court seeking that the shooting of the film be stopped as a rape accused, out on bail, was portraying the role of the Army hero, who was a rifleman in the 4 Garhwal Rifles.

The PIL had claimed that Rawat had single-handedly prevented the Chinese Army for three days from over-running his post during the 1962 Sino-Indian war, before he was killed on November 17, 1962. For his gallantry, he was still being honoured with promotions, the most recent one being of a Major General.