Supreme Court Stayed The Ban On Padmaavat

After Padmaavat being banned in 6 states, the producers of the movie decided to appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the release.

Governments of Haryana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand had declared that they will not allow screening of the movie, which is set for release on January 25.

Today, the Supreme Court stayed the ban on Padmaavat, in 6 states.

The court said that states must ensure law and order are maintained and they cannot ban the film citing it as a problem.

CJI Misra said during the hearing that:

“If we go by this (arguments leveled against films), 60 percent of literature, the even classical literature of India cannot be read.”

Senior lawyer Harish Salve on behalf of Padmaavat’s producers argued:

“If states are banning a film, then it destroys the federal structure. States can’t touch the content of a film. If anybody has a problem, they can approach the appellate tribunal.”

The judges said:

“A film may bomb at the box office or people may choose to not watch it, but states cannot use their machinery to prohibit its exhibition citing risk to public order.”

The top court added that it is the responsibility of the states to ensure peace.

In case you didn’t know, the CBFC had cleared the film for release after making some recommendations including a change in the film’s title. Rajput groups have been protesting against the film’s release and claim that it distorts history and shows Rani Padmavati in poor light.

Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and Shahid Kapoor starrer Padmaavat are all set to release on 25th January 2018.