Padmaavat: Will see if there is scope of appealing against SC verdict, says Haryana, Gujarat to review order

Gujarat and Haryana government have reacted cautiously to SC overturning ban imposed by six states to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus 'Padmaavaat'.  MoS Home Pradipsinh Jadeja said that Gujarat government will review the order and then will clear their stance. Government still believes that film can create turbulence in society, says Jadeja.  Haryana govt too has promised to study the decision of SC. 

Supreme Court gave the decision without listening to our side. Supreme Court is the supreme so will abide by the decision. We will also examine the decision and see if there is a scope of appealing against it: Anil Vij, Haryana Health Minister #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/XhGluX1kre

— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2018

On the other hand, Kari Sena has threatened to resort to junta curfew against screening of the movie.  ‘The cinema hall owners and associations in Rajasthan have given us in writing that they will not release film without consent of Karni Sena,’ Lokendra Singh Kalvi, Karni Sena chief, said at a press conference in Ujjain. In a clear departure from its violent threats, the Karni Sena has now resorted to what it calls ‘janta curfew.’ 

The Supreme Court today stayed the orders and notifications issued by Rajasthan and Gujarat governments prohibiting the screening of the controversial movie 'Padmaavat', clearing the decks for its nationwide release on January 25. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra also restrained other states from issuing such notifications or orders prohibiting the exhibition of the film.

The bench, also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, observed that the states are obliged to maintain law and order.

"We direct that there shall be a stay of operation on the notification and orders issued and we also restrain other states from issuing such notifications or orders in this matter," the bench said in its interim order. During the hearing, the CJI observed, "the whole problem when exhibition of a film is stopped like this, my constitutional conscience shocks me". Senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi, representing Viacom 18 and other producers of the movie, told the bench that states have no power to issue such notifications banning exhibition of a film when the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has given a certificate for its release.
The bench posted the matter for further hearing in March.

The producers had approached the top court challenging the notification and orders issued by four states-- Gujarat Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh-- prohibiting exhibition of the film.  The film is based on the saga of the historic battle of 13th century between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi. The set of the movie was vandalised twice -- in Jaipur and Kolhapur, while its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was roughed up by members of the Karni Sena last year. 

With PTI inputs