New Delhi, May 12 (Hindustan Times). The Supreme Court has issued notices to the governments of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu while hearing a petition filed by a filmmaker against the ban on the screening of the film ‘The Kerala Story’ in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud directed to file a reply by May 18.
During the hearing, the court asked the government of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu that when the film is running all over the country then why is it being stopped in your state. Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the West Bengal government, said that in the case of films, the Supreme Court has been directing to go to the High Court. In this case too, the High Court should be asked to go. There is an intelligence report regarding the film that law and order situation may arise.
The petition filed by the producer of the film states that the West Bengal government has banned the exhibition of the film invoking Section 6(1) of the West Bengal Cinemas Regulation Act. After the approval of the censor board, the state government cannot ban the exhibition of the film. The state government cannot cite law and order to stop the release of the film. Doing so is a violation of fundamental rights.
The petition states that cinema halls in Tamil Nadu are not showing the film as they have been informally ordered by the state government. There is an allegation on this film that this film defames the Muslim community and Kerala.
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