A public interest litigation (PIL) has been submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, advocating for the reinstatement of the film Satluj, which centres on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film was removed from the OTT platform Zee5 just two days post its release. The petition was initiated by Sharwan Singh and is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution, naming several respondents including the Union government, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the Punjab government, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, and Zee5.

The petition asserts that Satluj was taken down without any publicly disclosed statutory, judicial, or governmental order, thus infringing upon the constitutional right to free speech and access to information. The petitioner is urging the High Court to mandate Zee5 to promptly restore the film across India and to provide any legal, statutory, or judicial rationale for its removal, should such an order exist.

Context of the Film’s Removal

The film, which was initially titled Punjab ’95 before being officially released as Satluj on July 3, 2026, was reportedly removed from the platform on July 5 of the same year. Zee5 allegedly cited only “current circumstances” as the reason for its takedown, without referencing any legal or governmental directive regarding the matter. This lack of clarity has prompted the filing of the PIL.

According to the plea, Satluj narrates the life and contributions of Jaswant Singh Khalra, known for bringing attention to the alleged unlawful cremations that took place during the militancy era in Punjab. The petition argues that the events depicted in the film are well-documented and have been scrutinised by numerous official entities, including the Supreme Court and the National Human Rights Commission. It maintains that the film does not disclose any confidential or prohibited information but rather presents judicially acknowledged events in a cinematic format.

Moreover, the PIL contends that the removal of a CBFC-certified film without adherence to due process contravenes the principles of the rule of law. This situation, it is argued, impacts the rights of subscribers who had paid for access to what was believed to be legally available content on the platform.

Petitioner’s Demands and Next Steps

The petitioner has outlined several requests in the PIL. These include an immediate order for the restoration of Satluj, full disclosure of the reasons behind its removal, and the establishment of protocols that ensure future takedowns of certified content are executed in compliance with the due process of law. Such measures are considered necessary to protect the rights of content creators and viewers alike.

The matter is expected to be scheduled for hearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the near future. The outcome of this litigation could have significant implications for content regulation on OTT platforms, especially regarding artistic expression and public access to information.

The continued interest in this case reflects broader conversations around free speech and access to information within the context of Indian cinema and digital media. As the hearing approaches, many are awaiting clarification on how the court will interpret the issues raised in the PIL.

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