Full Breakdown
NALSAR Law Students Hold Private Screening of Umar Khalid Documentary After Cancellations Elsewhere
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Core Event: Solidarity Screening at NALSAR
A group of students at NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad organised a private, invite-only screening of the documentary “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present” on a Wednesday evening. The film, directed by Lalit Vachani, chronicles the arrest and continued detention of activist Umar Khalid.
Background & Context
Umar Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University student, was a leading figure in the 2019 anti-CAA protests. He has been held without trial since September 2020 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for alleged involvement in the Delhi riots. The documentary traces his journey from student activist to inmate.
Earlier attempts to screen the film at other institutions were halted. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) warned that public exhibition of an uncertified film violates the Cinematograph Act unless a specific exemption is obtained. Consequently, the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H) cancelled a planned September 18 screening, and the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru scrapped a September 14 event after objections from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and reports of threats, intimidation and doxxing.
Official Statements & Responses
- Prof K.S. Rajan, Registrar, IIIT-H – issued disciplinary notices to eight students of the platform “No Tyrants, No Silence” (NTNS), stating the action was unrelated to the students’ political views and concerned alleged violations of institute policies, including unauthorised use of the institute’s name.
- CBFC – reiterated that films can be publicly exhibited only after certification and that screening an uncertified film would breach the Cinematograph Act unless an exemption is secured.
Criticism & Opposition
- ABVP, the student wing of the ruling party’s nationalist bloc, objected to the NLSIU screening, labeling the film as a “political” event and pressuring organisers with threats of criminal action.
- Organisers of a cancelled screening in Versova, Mumbai, alleged that individuals in civilian clothing claiming to be police approached the venue, followed by a call from the superintendent of police, which they described as intimidation.
- The Bombay High Court lawyer Chandni Chawla argued that CBFC certification requirements apply only to public or commercial screenings, not to private gatherings such as the NALSAR event.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- IIIT-H maintains that the proposed IIIT-H screening was not organised or authorised by the institute, while student activists claim the event was independently arranged by the NTNS platform.
- The CBFC’s position that certification is mandatory for public exhibition conflicts with legal interpretations, such as Chandni Chawla’s, that private screenings may be exempt. No definitive legal ruling on the status of the NALSAR private screening has been reported.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The action is not related to the views, opinions or political beliefs of the students,” — IIIT-H
Timeline
- September 14 (scheduled) – Planned NLSIU screening postponed and later cancelled after ABVP objections.
- September 18 (scheduled) – Planned IIIT-H screening cancelled following CBFC’s objection.
- Wednesday evening (date unspecified) – NALSAR students conduct private screening of the documentary.