Supreme Court Stays Ban Imposed On Release Of Padmaavat By 4 States.

The Supreme Court has stayed a ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat imposed by four states, ensuring an all India release of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film on January 25. The ban was imposed by Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh despite the film being cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Despite the court order, protests against the film’s theatrical release continued in many states including Rajasthan and Chattisgarh.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra also restrained any other state from issuing such notifications and orders prohibiting exhibition of the movie. The bench, also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud observed that the states are obliged to maintain law and order.
“We direct that there shall be a stay of operation on the notification and orders issued and we also restrain other states from issuing such notifications or orders in this matter,” the bench said in its interim order.
Senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi, representing Viacom 18 and other producers of the movie, told the bench that states have no power to issue such notifications banning exhibition of a film when the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has given a certificate of release.
“If states are banning a film, then it is destroying federal structure. It is a serious matter. If somebody has a problem,then he or she can approach appellate tribunal for relief. State can’t touch the content of a film.”
“Request the Central government to pass a direction to the states for a better and an effective step and solution,” he added.
The producers had approached the top court challenging the notification and orders issued by four states , Gujarat Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh prohibiting exhibition of the film.
During the hearing today, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was representing Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana, informed the bench that notification and order has been issued by states of Gujarat and Rajasthan only.
The bench has posted the matter for further hearing in March.