No ban on 'Padmaavat': Supreme Court rejects all pleas

The Supreme Court on 23 January 2018 paved the way for screening of Bollywood film 'Padmaavat' by rejecting the pleas of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh governments and the Karni Sena which sought a ban on the release of the film.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud ruled that people must understand that the apex court has passed such order and they must abide by it. It also reiterated that the states must ensure that law and order is maintained.

The three-judge bench refused to modify its January 18, 2018 order of lifting ban on the release of the film by states. The court had directed that no state government would issue orders banning release of ‘Padmaavat’ on January 25, 2018.

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Few states including Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh claimed that Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 empowers them to stop exhibition of any controversial movie on the grounds of possible violation of law and order.

Meanwhile, Karni Sena founder Lokendra Singh Kalvi claimed that the people will boycott the film, if it is released.

'Padmaavat', directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is scheduled to release on January 25. Along with Bhansali, the film is co-produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures.

Violence against release of 'Padmaavat'
As the date of the release of the controversial film is coming closer, there are chances of violence and destruction in some states. In fact, Rajput Karni Sena, the outfit which has been opposing the release of the movie, announced that it is prepared to stop the release of the film.

The group has also warned of "enormous outburst of people", if the movie releases.

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