The Supreme Court on January 23, 2018 dismissed a challenge by the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh seeking to stall the release of controversial movie Padmaavat, citing law and order problems. Read order here.
A Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud heard the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, as well as the Karni Sena and the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Sabha (ABKM), before dismissing all the applications.
While the states cited law and order problems being faced due to the release of the movie, the court held that people could choose to not watch the movie but it would not be banned from being released.
The court also said that it must be understood by the state governments that there is a censor board that has cleared the movie, after which the court has also allowed its release and they must abide by both.
On January 18, 2018, the apex court cleared the way for the release of the controversial movie, lifting the ban imposed by four states on screening of the movie. Read order here.
Thereafter, states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh had moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of this order.
