The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would hear in January a plea which has raised the issue concerning pre-censorship of films. The apex court had in April 2017 sought responses from the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on the plea filed by veteran actor-director Amol Palekar. The matter came up for hearing before a bench of justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan. "Why should all such petitions be filed directly before the Supreme Court," the bench asked. The counsel appearing for the petitioner said the pleadings in the matter were complete. "It is our respectful submission that documentaries do not fall within the definition of cinematograph as defined under the Act (Cinematograph Act)," the lawyer said. When the lawyer referred to the prayers made in the plea, the bench observed it also relates to pre-censorship of films. The petitioner's counsel said the government had notified the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 in August last year but that doe