Editing Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (section)

=== Censorship case ===
In 1968, Abbas made a documentary film called ''Char Shaher Ek Kahani'' (A Tale of Four Cities).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abbaska.com/filmography/char-shaher-ek-kahani-tale-four-cities |title=Char Shaher Ek Kahani (A Tale of four cities) &#124; the Life & Times of Khwaja Ahmad Abbas |website=www.abbaska.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714040923/http://www.abbaska.com/filmography/char-shaher-ek-kahani-tale-four-cities |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The film depicted the contrast between the luxurious life of the rich in the four cities of [[Kolkata|Calcutta]], [[Mumbai|Bombay]], [[Chennai|Madras]] and [[New Delhi|Delhi]] and that of the squalor and poverty of the poor. He approached the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] to obtain a [[U certificate (India)|'U' (Unrestricted Public Exhibition) certificate]]. Abbas was, however, informed by the regional office of the [[Central Board of Film Certification|Board]] that the film was not eligible to be granted a 'U' certificate, but was suitable for exhibition only for adults. His appeal to the revising committee of the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] led to the decision of the censors being upheld.<ref name="indiankanoon.org">{{cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1719619/|title=K. A. Abbas vs The Union Of India & Anr on 24 September, 1970|website=Indiankanoon.org|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-date=21 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321141743/https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1719619/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Khwaja Ahmad Abbas further appealed to the [[Government of India|Central Government]] but the government decided to grant the film a 'U' certificate provided certain scenes were cut. Following this, Abbas approached the [[Supreme Court of India]] by filing a [[Prerogative writ|writ petition]] under Article 19(1) of the [[Indian Constitution]]. He claimed that his [[Fundamental rights in India|fundamental right]] of free speech and expression was denied by the [[Government of India|Central Government]]'s refusal to grant the film a 'U' certificate.<ref name="indiankanoon.org"/> Abbas also challenged the constitutional validity of pre-censorship on films.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/udta-punjab-row-a-case-for-cutting-out-the-censor/article14418623.ece|title=A case for cutting out the censor|first=Gautam|last=Bhatia|date=13 June 2016|access-date=25 April 2019|website=The Hindu|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807013345/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/udta-punjab-row-a-case-for-cutting-out-the-censor/article14418623.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

However the [[Supreme Court of India]] upheld the constitutional validity of pre-censorship on films.
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/6ZZM8m9pHkZ2ECPvOee1jN/Film-censorship-and-the-courts.html|title=Film censorship and the courts|first=Gautam|last=Bhatia|date=7 May 2016|website=Livemint.com|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-date=25 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425141807/https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/6ZZM8m9pHkZ2ECPvOee1jN/Film-censorship-and-the-courts.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ebc-india.com/lawyer/articles/71v1a10.htm|title=Eastern Book Company – Practical Lawyer|website=Ebc-india.com|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-date=6 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506150824/http://www.ebc-india.com/lawyer/articles/71v1a10.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>