On Tuesday, the Supreme Court immediately refused to hear a petition to stop the release of the controversial film The Story of Kerala.
A bench made up of judges KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna said the censor board had already cleared the film and petitioners should challenge the film’s accreditation before the appropriate authorities. This bench currently hears issues related to hate speech. Bench said a petition to postpone the release of the film would not be allowed into the club due to the issue of hate speech, as screening the film involves a different process.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal and Advocate Nizam Pasha urged the bench to hear their plea that the Kerala Story will be published on Friday.
At the hearing, Bench said, “This has passed certification. It cannot be made part of a hate speech case.”
Pasha said that The Kerala Story’s YouTube trailer has so far been viewed 16 million times and is the worst example of hate speech and audiovisual propaganda.
Bench told defense attorneys, “I would have to move the High Court or some other suitable forum, but I can’t put it here.”
Pasha stressed that he did not have time for other remedies.
Emphasizing that the petition cannot be tagged as a hate speech case, Bench verbally noted this and “the other matters you notified us about. Would you like to move the relevant High Court first?”
Kapil Sibal urged Bench to watch the YouTube trailer transcript during his lunch break and then call him, adding that he would also file a petition by Wednesday.
Bench refused to entertain pleas against Kerala Story, stating: We can’t do anything unless you challenge the accreditation. You have to go to the High Court of Jurisdiction. We can’t start everything here in the Supreme Court…”
Bench told Kapil Sibal, “This may not be the forum for you to rest.”
The Kerala Story starring Ada Sharma, which is set to release on May 5, has sparked major controversy by claiming that 32,000 women have left the state.
As soon as the film’s teaser was released, the leftists and the UDF, led by the ruling party CPI(M), demanded that the film not be screened.
The Kerala State Board of Muslim Youth League has announced a reward of Rs. Right-wing activist and founder of Hinduism Seva Kendra Prateish Viswanath also offered his 100 million rupees to prove the opposite.
The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen, follows the journey of four college girls from the state of Kerala to become part of the Islamic State.
Kerala Story also stars Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Bharani. Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah.
Stay tuned for more news and details like this.
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