Supreme Court stays West Bengal govt order banning film ‘The Kerala Story’

The Supreme Court Thursday stayed the May 8 order of the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government banning the screening of the controversial film ‘The Kerala Story’ in the state. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, and comprising Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, said that it is the duty of the state government to maintain law and order as the film has been granted certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), news agency PTI reported. The movie has been the subject of fierce online debate and criticism with strong objections raised by many political leaders who have termed it to be a propaganda film. The West Bengal government had imposed a ban on the screening of the film citing threat to law and order in the state. Moreover, taking note of submissions that there was no “de facto” ban on the film in Tamil Nadu, the top court directed the Tamil Nadu government to ensure adequate security to every cinema hall and make requisite arrangements to ensure safety of movie-goers who wish to watch it. “No steps whether tacit or express, formal or informal shall be taken by Tamil Nadu… to prevent its screening,” the SC said.The legal provision cannot be used to put a premium on public intolerance. Otherwise, all films will find themselves in this spot,” the bench said during the hearing, according to news agency PTI.The court also asked the producer to put a disclaimer in the film, considering the allegations of conversion of 32,000 women to Islam, by 5 pm on May 20, the news agency reported. The top court will now hear pleas challenging the grant of CBFC certification to ‘The Kerala Story’ in the second week of July. The court said it would like to watch the film before proceeding to decide pleas challenging the grant, PTI reported.