On 25 May 2015, Justice Rajiv Shakdher of Delhi High Court allowed the release of a documentary “Textures of Loss” made by filmmaker Pankaj Butalia on Kashmir violence. This documentary was made on the spate of violence in Kashmir between 2005 and 2013 and contains interviews of people affected by it. It deals with the sense of loss in Kashmir after more than two decades of violence. Earlier, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) had refused to allow screening of this documentary suggesting some major cuts in the documentary. Pankaj Butalia had challenged the decision of the CBFC in a writ petition vide WP (C) No. 675 of 2015 in Delhi High Court [Pankaj Butalia v. Central Board of Film Certification & Ors.]. Earlier on 10 April 2015, Justice Rajiv Shakdher of Delhi High Court had heard the arguments and had reserved the judgment.
Pankaj Butalia is a renowned documentary film maker in India. His 1993 film “Moksha” on the widows of Vrindavan had received international awards. Many of his films have been screened extensively throughout the world. Butalia has also directed a feature film “Karvaan” starring Naseeruddin Shah.
The CBFC and the FCAT had wanted the filmmaker to censor certain angry remarks made in the documentary “Textures of Loss” by some parents of children killed during the 2010 stone-pelting clashes in Srinagar. Certain other changes were also suggested to be made by the CBFC for clearing the documentary for release. However, the High Court on 25 May 2015 allowed Pankaj Butalia to screen the documentary with a ‘U’ certificate and without any cuts or disclaimers. Justice Shakdher also observed that the CBFC had not followed proper procedure while passing the order in 2013 of denying the permission to the said documentary, as it had not given an opportunity to Pankaj Butalia to present his side.
