The Supreme Court on Tuesday took serious exception to the apex Sikh body’s objection to the release of a movie and cleared the decks for its nationwide release on Friday.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), which refused to support the screening of the film “Nanak Shah Fakir”, faced the ire of the Court that said, “Such bodies, groups or individuals cannot assume the position as if they are the authorities to grant certificate or unless they feel that the movie is to be released, it should not see the light of the day. The thought, the least said, is unacceptable.”
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices A M Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud noted that on March 28 the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had given clearance for releasing the movie. Although, SBPC initially supported the film, on March 30, it withdrew support following which the release of the movie was in jeopardy due to law and order issues.
Petitioner Harinder S Sikka, a retired Naval officer and the producer of the film approached the apex court claiming that the film is based on the life and teachings of Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak Dev and has nothing objectionable in it. The bench said that creating disturbance even after CBFC certification was akin to becoming a law unto themselves and not respecting the law that governs the land.
The apex court observed that if such activities are encouraged, the same has the potentiality to bring in “anarchy and cripple the right of freedom of speech and expression”.
The Court directed Centre and states to ensure law and order is maintained while ordering the movie’s release and posted the matter for further hearing on May 8.