Mumbai:
The Supreme Court has allowed the screening of controversial film Aarakshan in Uttar Pradesh.
On Tuesday, August 17, the Court had declined to lift the ban on Prakash Jha's film, imposed by the UP government, and said it will hear the UP government before deciding the issue today.
The Supreme Court said, in a statement:
"Reservation is one of the social issues and in a vibrant democracy like ours public discussion is necessary for smooth running of healthy democracy. In fact such discussions on social issues bring awareness for efficient working of democracy".
Downplaying the Uttar Pradesh government's fears of a breach of peace, the court argued:
"It is for the state to maintain law and order. In a society there bound to be divergent views on issues".
Jha had, on Friday (August 12), moved the Supreme Court, seeking its direction to lift the ban imposed on the release of his film in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
Punjab and Andhra Pradesh have withdrawn the ban on the film in their states after minor modifications.
The UP government had banned the film on August 10 for two months, citing law and order problems.
On Sunday (August 14), the screening of the film was cancelled in two city theatres in Bangalore after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers protested, demanding a ban on the movie.
The managers of Urvashi and Vision Cinemas said they took the step after being asked by the police, who reached the spot following the demonstrations.
Prakash Jha's controversial film, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Manoj Bajpai, released on Friday, August 12. (With PTI inputs)
On Tuesday, August 17, the Court had declined to lift the ban on Prakash Jha's film, imposed by the UP government, and said it will hear the UP government before deciding the issue today.
The Supreme Court said, in a statement:
"Reservation is one of the social issues and in a vibrant democracy like ours public discussion is necessary for smooth running of healthy democracy. In fact such discussions on social issues bring awareness for efficient working of democracy".
Downplaying the Uttar Pradesh government's fears of a breach of peace, the court argued:
"It is for the state to maintain law and order. In a society there bound to be divergent views on issues".
Jha had, on Friday (August 12), moved the Supreme Court, seeking its direction to lift the ban imposed on the release of his film in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
Punjab and Andhra Pradesh have withdrawn the ban on the film in their states after minor modifications.
The UP government had banned the film on August 10 for two months, citing law and order problems.
On Sunday (August 14), the screening of the film was cancelled in two city theatres in Bangalore after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers protested, demanding a ban on the movie.
The managers of Urvashi and Vision Cinemas said they took the step after being asked by the police, who reached the spot following the demonstrations.
Prakash Jha's controversial film, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Manoj Bajpai, released on Friday, August 12. (With PTI inputs)
