SC relief for Padmaavat, ban on screening stayed
TOP COURT INTERVENES CJIled bench restrains all states from banning the film
The Supreme Court stayed on Thursday orders by four states banning controversial Bollywood movie Padmaavat, paving the way for a nationwide release of the period drama that is facing violent protests over the depiction of a legendary Rajput queen.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra also restrained other states from banning the film and asked governments to provide security to the film’s crew, who are already facing threats of death and violence.
“Creative content is an inseparable aspect of Article 19 of the Constitution (fundamental right to speech). Expression of ideas through the medium of cinema is a public right,” the bench said.
The film, which had been banned by Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan after protests by Rajput caste groups, is slated for release on January 25.
But Padmaavat’s troubles might not have ended yet. At least one state, Haryana, indicated it will appeal the SC decision and another, Madhya Pradesh, said the film will remain banned as the government studied the apex court order. Rajput caste groups, led by the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, also called for a “janta (public) curfew” on January 25 and vandalised a cinema in north Bihar’s Muzaffarpur.
Earlier in the day, the CJI said the ban had shocked the court’s conscience. “A film may bomb at the box office or people may choose not to watch it, but states cannot use machinery to prohibit movie’s exhibition.”
The top court didn’t entertain
NEW DELHI: Creative content an inseparable aspect of Constitution. Expression of ideas through the medium of cinema is a public right. Our stand remains the same… if the movie is released, then Rajput community will be out on the streets