Indian Supreme Court rejects all pleas to ban 'Padmaavat'

All states have been asked to comply with the order and not stand in the way of the release

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has asked all states to comply with its order not to stand in the way of the release of controversial film Padmaavat as it dismissed last ditch efforts by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments to block its January 25 release.

A bench of chief justice Dipak Misra, justice A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said, "People must understand that the supreme court has passed an order and it must be complied with."

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Misra stated, "A few hundred people come on the street and create a law and order situation demanding ban. That can't be accepted."

In reply to solicitor general Tushar Mehta,  who tried to flag the law and order situation as a ground for blocking release of the film, Misra also added, "We can advise them not to watch the movie if they don't like it but we will not modify our order."

The court also dismissed a plea by Akhil Bharatiya Karni Mahasangh, saying, "We are not inclined to modify order," hence, clearing the decks for the release of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial.

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Admitting that maintaining law and order was the state's obligation, Mehta appearing for the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments urged the court to appreciate the ground situation and threat to breach of peace. He also stated that the situation could get worse where after the release of the film, there could be trouble in some parts.

However, Khanwilkar retorted, "Let the state honour this order. Rest we will deal with when it comes to it."

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