Goa film fest: HC stays publication of results

Kerala High Court today stayed the publication of results of films selected for the Indian Panorama of the 40th India International Film Festival of India 2009 to be held in Goa from next month. The order in this regard was issued by Justice P N Ravindran on a writ petition by film director Ranjith.

According to Ranjith, neither the jury nor the director of the festival had announced the results of the selection. But yesterday one of the jury members, Gautam Bhaskar, had posted a comment on a private website announcing the results. That indicates that all is not well with the selection process, he submitted.

The petitioner sought a direction to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to conduct an inquiry into the selection process immediately with particular reference to leaking of the results by a jury member and to conduct the selection process afresh.