The Delhi High Court has questioned how copyright can exist on the unpublished life story of a 1962 Sino-Indian war martyr, based on whom a biopic is being produced.
“How can there be any copyright on an unpublished work, even if it is a life story of a war hero,” Justice Vibhu Bakhru asked the family of the martyr, rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, who have been opposing the making of a film about him.
The deceased’s brother Vijay Singh Rawat has said it was a violation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) as well as breach of their privacy. He said the family’s consent was neither taken, nor was the film script provided to them.
The court has posted the hearing on the case for February 21, when the brother of the war hero, has to show what right he has to demand that the biopic should not be filmed.
Battle of Nuranang
Rifleman Rawat had sacrificed his life for the nation in the 1962 Indo-China war. He was a soldier of the 4 Garhwal Rifles and was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously for his valour at the battle of Nuranang in Arunachal Pradesh. He had single-handedly repulsed Chinese troops for three days from overrunning his post.
Petition against film
A separate petition was filed earlier this month seeking that the shooting of the film be stopped as a rape accused, out on bail, was portraying the role of the jawan. But the HC dismissed it saying it cannot decide who plays role A or B in a movie.
The petition had said that the post which he held against the Chinese Army is named after him as Jaswant Garh. It said that Rawat continued in the service even after death, “he has been awarded promotions as if he is still serving the nation”.
“The Army keep at least half a dozen personnel at the post to take care of Rawat as if he is alive. He is served bed tea at 4.30 a.m., breakfast at 9 a.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.,” the petition said.
