Ban on Jodhaa Akbar screening lifted

The Supreme Court has lifted the ban on Jodhaa Akbar imposed by the governments of UP and Haryana till March 14, reports Bhadra Sinha.

The Supreme Court has lifted the ban on

HT Image

Jodhaa Akbar

imposed by the governments of UP and Haryana till March 14.

A bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan granted interim relief to the producers of the movie, UTV Software Communication, a day after the production house moved the court requesting it to quash the ban orders. It fixed March 14 to hear UTV's petition at length and decide if notices should be issued to the respondents in the petition.

The screening of the film was banned in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and several cities in Haryana and Uttarakhand after some people objected to it over the alleged wrong depiction of historical characters. While the film was shown in MP and Rajasthan after the respective high courts quashed the ban order, it could not take off in the other three states.

Apprehending similar ban in other states, the company preferred to approach the Supreme Court under Article 19 of the Constitution.

UTV Software Communication submitted that the film has been banned for political reasons. "The fundamental right to speech and expression is being trampled over by various state governments with the sole objective of gaining political mileage by banning the film," said senior advocate Ashok Desai, appearing for the company.