It was just last week that we reported that the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea seeking a ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmavati’. The bench had also warned politicians not to make any adverse comments until the Censor Board gave their certification.
A three-judge bench which comprised of Dipak Misra said, “When the matter is pending for CBFC’s consideration, how can persons in power or holding responsible public offices comment on whether CBFC should issue a certificate or not? It will prejudice the decision-making of CBFC. Such an act is a clear breach of law…”
Recent reports suggest that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said that ‘Padmavati’ cannot be released in Bihar till government receives proper clarification from the makers of the film. Such statements violate the law since the CBFC is yet to certify the film.
The bench, also comprising of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud, said that when even courts do not pre-judge an issue, surely those in high public offices should refrain from making such comments.
The bench had done something similar when they had dismissed PIL from Mr Sharma against ‘Padmavati’. Senior advocate Harish Salve who appeared for the producer and director also voiced that they had no intention to release the film until the CBFC didn’t clear the film as it would affect the movie’s business interest.
The bench has expressed “shock” at certain objectionable contents of the petition and termed them “unwarranted” and “scurrilous” and ordered their deletion as of now.
