The Supreme Court questioned the legitimacy of pre-censorship for web series, films, and other programs released directly on online platforms. The bench, led by Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi, heard a plea from Sujeet Kumar Singh of Mirzapur requesting a pre-screening committee for such content.

The court raised concerns about the need for a pre-screening committee for web series, emphasizing the existing legislation that should apply to over-the-top (OTT) platforms. The bench advised the petitioner to provide a more detailed petition and withdraw the current one.

An OTT platform allows the delivery of video content directly to viewers without the need for a third-party platform. The Supreme Court declined to halt production of the third season of the popular web series “Mirzapur.”

The court had previously requested responses from the Centre, Amazon Prime Video, and Excel Entertainment Pvt Ltd regarding allegations that “Mirzapur” portrayed the place in a negative light. The petition called for government certification before releasing content on online platforms and the implementation of rules for censorship.

Overall, the court expressed doubts about the necessity of a pre-screening committee for web series and emphasized the need for proper legislation and certification processes for content released on online platforms.