Madras High Court Orders CBFC and Director H Vinoth to Respond to Jana Nayagan Defamation Petition

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court issued notices to director H Vinoth, the Chairperson and regional officer of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and producer Venkat K Narayana after a petition filed by residents of Pappapatti village in Madurai district. The petition alleges that the Tamil film *Jana Nayagan* portrays the village’s panchayat elections falsely, depicts voters’ hands being chopped off, and shows attacks on schoolgirls and women, thereby defaming the community. The court directed the respondents to file counter‑affidavits and adjourned the hearing for further proceedings. The case underscores ongoing legal challenges to film content deemed objectionable despite prior CBFC certification.