The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to lift the stay ordered by the Delhi High Court on Udaipur Files, a film based on the death of tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli, who was beheaded allegedly by two Islamists in June 2022, in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymala Bagchi asked the Central government to examine the movie, as directed by the High Court, and submit its views on the same.
Noting that the Union government had constituted a Committee, which was scheduled to watch the film today, the Apex Court said it would await the outcome of proceedings pending before the Central government.
It directed the committee to decide on objections to the movie and the revision plea immediately without any loss of time. If the Centre did not find any objections to the film, this Court would consider lifting the ban, added the Bench,
The top court of the country observed that the High Court did not make any comments on the contents of the movie but only relegated the petitioner before it to avail a remedy before the Central government.
The Union of India was empowered to issue interim measures to suspend a movie exhibition, it pointed out.
The top court of the country also permitted one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case to be represented before the Committee.
The Apex Court decided to keep the matter pending for the time being and listed the petition for further consideration on July 21.
The producers of the movie had approached the Supreme Court after the High Court stayed the release of the movie on July 10 and ordered the Central government to exercise its revisional powers under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act to examine the movie.
On July 14, the Apex Court agreed to list the appeal after it was mentioned for urgent listing.