New Delhi: Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
today moved the Supreme Court seeking recall of its January 18
order by which controversial Bollywood movie "Padmaavat' was
allowed to be released in theatres across India on January 25.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices
A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud agreed to hear tomorrow the
interim applications of both the states seeking modification
of the apex court order allowing exhibition of the movie.
The states claimed that section 6 of the Cinematograph
Act empowers them to stop exhibition of any controversial
movie on the grounds of possible violation of law and order.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Viacom 18 the
producers of the Deepika Padukone-starrer, opposed urgent
hearing on any such interim applications.
The court, however, agreed to hear the applications
tomorrow.
The Supreme Court had on January 25 paved the way for the
nationwide release of 'Padmaavat' by staying the ban on its
screening in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The apex court also restrained other states from issuing
any such notification or order banning the screening of the
movie.
The film, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and
Ranveer Singh in lead roles, is based on the saga of historic
battle of 13th century between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his
army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi.
Haryana and Madhya Pradesh governments have not issued
any formal order but had stated that they would not allow the
exhibition of the film.
Maintaining that states were under constitutional
obligation to maintain law and order, the apex court had said
that this duty also includes providing police protection to
persons who are involved in the film, its exhibition and the
audience watching it.
PTI
