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SC rejects plea to cancel CBFC certificate to film

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea seeking urgent hearing on a fresh PIL that sought cancellation of Censor Board's certificate granted to controversial Bollywood movie 'Padmaavat'.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud also trashed the submission that the screening of the movie may cause serious threat to life, property and law and order.
"Maintaining law and order is not our job. That is the job of the state. Prayer rejected," the bench said while refusing to accord urgent hearing on the fresh plea filed by lawyer M L Sharma. The lawyer has sought cancellation of the U/A certificate granted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to Deepika Padukone-starrer 'Padmaavat' on various grounds including the provisions of the Cinematograph Act.
"Yesterday (Thursday), we have passed a reasoned order," the bench said adding that, once CBFC has granted the certificate, there was no scope of any interference.
The apex court had on Thursday paved the way for the nationwide release of movie 'Padmaavat' on January 25 by staying the ban on the screening of the film in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The court had also restrained other states from issuing any such notification or order banning the screening of the film.
The movie, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in lead roles, is based on the saga of historic battle of 13th century between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi. Haryana and Madhya Pradesh governments have not issued any formal order but had stated that they would not allow the exhibition of the film.
Maintaining that states were under constitutional obligation to maintain law and order, the apex court had said that this duty also includes providing police protection to persons who are involved in the film, its exhibition and the audience watching it.




iProtest against 'Padmavat' in Jamshedpur
Jamshedpur: Members of the Rajput community as well as Hindu organisations here on Friday took out a motorcycle rally to protest against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmavat" later this month.
The rally, which was taken out under the banner of 'Maa Padmawati Samman Samity' started at Aambagan in Sakchi and culminated in front of the East Singhbhum district office here.
Organisations such as the Akhil Bharatiya Kshtriya Mahasabha (ABKM), Jharkhand Kshtriaya Sangh and Rajput Karni Sena participated in it. President, ABKM, Kolhan unit, Kunwar Anup Singhdeo alleged that the movie was aimed to hurt the sentiments of the Hindu society. He expressed apprehension that it would also drive wedges within the society on caste and communal lines.
On "Padmavati" being retitled "Padmavat", Singhdeo said only the title of the movie was changed and nothing else.
"If the objectionable scenes in the movie were really removed as demanded by us, why was the censor board scared to show the movie to our leaders before its release," he asked.

'No decision yet on 'Padmaavat' release in MP'
Bhopal: A day after the Supreme Court paved the way for nationwide release of "Padmaavat", Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Friday the advocate general has been asked to study the order before taking a decision on its screening in the state.
"We have told the state advocate general to study the Supreme Court order. After this, we will see if we have to say something in the honourable apex court. We have not taken any decision so far," Chouhan told reporters in response to a query after a function in Bhopal.
The apex court had on Thursday stayed the orders and notifications issued by the Rajasthan and Gujarat governments prohibiting the screening of the controversial movie, clearing the decks for its nationwide release on January 25. The SC bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra on Thursday also restrained other states from issuing such notifications or orders prohibiting the exhibition of the film. The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, observed that the states are obliged to maintain law and order.
"We direct that there shall be a stay of operation on the notification and orders issued and we also restrain other states from issuing such notifications or orders in this matter," the SC bench said in its interim order.
No formal order prohibiting the release of the film were issued by the Madhya Pradesh government.
However, Chouhan had recently indicated that the film "Padmaavat" will not be allowed to be released in his state.
Talking to reporters on January 12, the chief minister had said, "Jo kaha tha, wo hoga (What I had said, will happen)."

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