The Supreme Court made it clear no one can stop the screening of a feature film once if the Censor Board offers clearance. This crucial judgment was passed during the hearing of the petition filed seeking revoke of the ban imposed on Hindi flick 'Nanak Shah Fakir'.
Film Producer Harinder Singh Sikka moved a Writ Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the order passed by Sikh Body SGPC disallowing the theatrical release of 'Nanak Shah Fakir' on April 13th. Sikh Bodies such as SGPC and DSGMC have been objecting the portrayal of Sikhism Guru founder Nanak Dev as a human form in this movie.
A 3-Member SC Bench comprising of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Y Chandrachud agreed with the argument of Petitioner's Counsel that film screening can't be stopped once CBFC issues clearance. They faulted religious bodies for obstructing the film exhibition against the law of the land. 'Once the film was issued censor certificate, The Producer or Distributor has every right to screen in the theaters unless any superior authority modifies/nullifies it,' said the Apex Court, apart from issuing the notices to Centre and all the States to ensure law and order is maintained during the screening.
Film Producer Harinder Singh Sikka moved a Writ Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the order passed by Sikh Body SGPC disallowing the theatrical release of 'Nanak Shah Fakir' on April 13th. Sikh Bodies such as SGPC and DSGMC have been objecting the portrayal of Sikhism Guru founder Nanak Dev as a human form in this movie.
A 3-Member SC Bench comprising of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Y Chandrachud agreed with the argument of Petitioner's Counsel that film screening can't be stopped once CBFC issues clearance. They faulted religious bodies for obstructing the film exhibition against the law of the land. 'Once the film was issued censor certificate, The Producer or Distributor has every right to screen in the theaters unless any superior authority modifies/nullifies it,' said the Apex Court, apart from issuing the notices to Centre and all the States to ensure law and order is maintained during the screening.