Earlier in the day, the Apex Court declined to interfere in the order of Bombay High Court, which allowed the release of Shahid Kapur and Alia Bhatt-starrer movie, saying that it will not pass any order as the Punjab and Haryana High Court is to decide on the issue.
Bollywood producer Anurag Kashyap's controversial movie 'Udta Punjab' will finally be released on Friday after the Punjab and Haryana High Court as well as Supreme Court refused to interfere in the issue.
Earlier in the day, the Apex Court declined to interfere in the order of Bombay High Court, which allowed the release of Shahid Kapur and Alia Bhatt-starrer movie, saying that it will not pass any order as the Punjab and Haryana High Court is to decide on the issue.
The court, however, put questions to Kashyap about the relevance for using abusive words in the script: "This is a national issue and why is it only Punjab? Drug addicts don't use abusive language. They became restless when they don't get it. They can go for theft but not extortion or go for ransom."
Kashyap's lawyer cited the example of 'Bandit Queen', the film which was cleared by the censor board, since its context demanded use of abusive language.
The court, which was hearing a plea filed by NGO Human Rights Awareness Association for a stay on the release of the film, also said that in the absence of Bombay High Court order details it cannot pass any order.
A vacation bench of justices Adarsh Goel and L Nageshwar Rao was informed that the Punjab and Haryana High Court is to hear a PIL on the film today itself. The NGO was then asked by the court to withdraw the plea and move to the Punjab and Haryana High court.
During an hour-long hearing, lawyer Subramanium Prasad who represented the NGO, argued that despite two legal authorities including the censor board having seen the movie and suggesting deletion of certain scenes, the high court ignored the objectionable words and passed the order after going through the script.
The bench suggested the film-maker to delete the "very very obscene languages" from the movie. "Even judges work through legal aid committee for awareness on the issue. Studies say drug addicts don't use abusive words." The court asked Kashyap to explain the relevance of such languages in the movie.
"Abnormality is when the drug was withdrawn from the addicts.....," the court said and cited the situation in the North-East, particularly in border areas. The cases are growing because of two reasons — due to supply of drugs and unemployment, the court said.
Kashyap's lawyer Meenakshi Arora , however, said the language is not used by any drug addicts (characters) but by other characters in the movie. The senior counsel also explained the requirement of such words in the film adding that the film-maker has given a disclaimer on the scenes where it is required.
To her submission that the film-maker had applied for 'A' certificate for the movie, the court said these days 90 per cent people watch a film on either mobile, internet or YouTube and very few go to cinema halls.
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