Supreme Court Rejects Plea to Halt 'Udaipur Files' Movie Release During Kanwar Yatra
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Supreme Court of India on Friday dismissed a petition seeking a stay on the release of the controversial film “Udaipur Files” during the Kanwar Yatra. The plea, filed after the Delhi High Court's interim order, was declined by the top court, which stated that it saw no need to interfere at this stage.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, commented: "The Delhi High Court has already issued directions in this matter. We are not inclined to entertain this petition." The film, “Udaipur Files”, which is based on the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur on June 28, 2022, was scheduled to release on Friday. The brutal killing by two radicalized assailants — Mohammad Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammad — had sparked nationwide outrage at the time.
A day prior to the scheduled release, the Delhi High Court had temporarily stayed the film, directing that the restraining order would remain in effect until the Central Government decides on the review petitions filed against CBFC’s (Censor Board's) clearance of the movie.
The High Court bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay and Justice Anish Dayal was hearing several petitions, including one by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, who had demanded cancellation of the film's censor certificate.
Petitioners argued: “The release of the film ‘Udaipur Files’ may incite communal unrest and threaten public order, seriously disturbing the fabric of religious harmony in the country.”
The Delhi High Court directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to hear the film producers and decide on the review petition within one week. If the review includes requests for interim relief, the court urged the government to consider those requests as well.
- Tags
- #Udaipur