Supreme Court snubs PIL to block Padmaavat

The defiance against the release of Padmaavat, slated to hit theatres next week, continues despite a Supreme Court order striking down the ban on its release. Four states had asked for a ban on the film’s release.

A day after the order, advocate ML Sharma filed yet another petition on Friday seeking a stay on the film’s release citing a law and order situation. On Thursday, the top court had observed that its conscience was shocked that several states had “guillotined creative freedom”. The Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, refused to hear the petition — again. Sharma had filed a petition seeking a ban on the release of the film in November 2017.

At the time, he had objected to the Deepika Padukone’s role as the film’s protagonist. However, then, like on Friday, the Bench had rejected Sharma’s contention.

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed notifications and orders issued by several state governments banning the screening of Padmaavat, which is being opposed by some Rajput groups over the alleged wrongful portrayal of queen Padmavati played by Deepika Padukone.

Despite the relief, the film is facing stiff resistance with several theatres in refusing to screen it. A combative Sanjay Singh Rathore, …read more