SC notice to West Bengal govt for ban on ‘The Kerala Story’ film: ‘Why should you not allow it?’
1 min read 12 May 2023, 02:58 PM ISTThe Supreme Court has issued notices to Bengal and Tamil Nadu governments on the plea of the makers of the movie, ‘The Kerala Story’, challenging the ban on the screening of the movie
PremiumThe Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the governments in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu over their ban on the screening of the controversial film ‘The Kerala Story’. The Supreme Court also the West Bengal and Tamil Nadu government to submit their replies to the plea by producers of "The Kerala Story" against the ban on its screening in their states.
Hearing the plea of makers of the movie, ‘The Kerala Story’ challenging the decision of the West Bengal government to ban the screening of the movie in the state, the top court asked why should the state ban the movie when it is being screened all over the country.
The Supreme Court also issued a notice to Tamil Nadu regarding the de facto ban on the movie in the state. The Supreme Court said, “The movie is being exhibited all over the country, why should [the] West Bengal govt ban the movie, why should you not allow it to run?"
“The film is running in different parts of the country with similar demographic profiles. This has nothing to do with the cinematic value of the movie, it may be good or bad," says Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud noted.
The Supreme Court has also asked the Tamil Nadu government to specify measures taken to provide security to theatres screening ‘The Kerala Story’.
On May 8, the West Bengal government banned the controversial movie, ‘The Kerala Story’ from being screened in the theatres. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered the immediate ban on the screening of ‘The Kerala Story’.
Mamata Banerjee called 'The Kerala Story' a “distorted" movie, “aimed at defaming the southern state". “West Bengal govt has decided to ban the movie The Kerala Story. This is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and to maintain peace in the state," ANI quoted Mamata Banerjee as saying.
“What is The Kashmir files? it is to humiliate one section. What is The Kerala story?... It is a distorted story," she said.
