National Film Awards jury may edit list

NEW DELHI: The formulation of a fresh list of winners of the National Film Awards seems likely following the Bombay high court’s order on the competition’s selection processes.

The I&B ministry has asked the law ministry to interpret the high court judgement instructing the Directorate of Film Festivals to consider uncensored films for the competition.

Based on the law ministry input, the I&B ministry may either decide to move the Supreme Court, or ask for a new round of competition.

The winners’ list is out in the open through media reports. “We have got the names in a sealed cover, and don’t know what’s inside,” an official from the I&B ministry said. 

He indicated, however, that changes may be in the offing.  “Who knows, the final result may be totally different.” It is not known when the law ministry would offer its views.

The Bombay high court had acted on a petition filed by film-makers Anand Patwardhan, Simantini Dhuruv and Gaurav Jani