Plea in SC seeks ban on the 'Da Vinci Code' movie, book

New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) A Christian has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking ban on the exhibition of the controversial movie " the Da Vinci Code" and also ban on the circulation of the novel on which the movie is based.

The petitioner Mathews has prayed to the court to direct the Centre to impose ban on the movie which is '' full of blasphemy and hurts the religious sentiments of the Christian community throughout the country.'' The movie and the novel are full of distortions and the film says that the holy book 'Bible' has been written by a man and not sent by God.

The petition filed through counsel Nafis A. Siddiqui also contends that accusations in the film that Jesus Christ was married and had an issue is aimed at spoiling the image of Christ and also falsifying the history and biography.

The divinity of Bible has been falsified and the facts of birth, death, resurrection of Christ has been portrayed in bad light.

The movie was released in India on May 25 and it is based on the novel " The Da Vinci Code" which was published in the US in 2003 and the film was also picturised there.

The petitioner has also described the action of the Board of Film Certificate giving permission for the release of the movie in India as arbitrary.

The Respondents are Union government, Central Board of Film Certification(CBFC) and the distributors of the film M/s Sony Entertainment.

The petitioner has also sought directions for the cancellation of the certificate issued by CBFC and also sought directions to the distributors to stop distribution and exhibition of the movie in India.

The petitioner has also claimed despite disclaimer that the movie was based on fiction the contents clearly show that it based on the life of Jesus Christ, son of God.

The writ further alleges that scrolls highlight glaring historical concoctions, discrepancies and fabrications clearly confirming that the modern Bible was compiled and edited by a man who possessed a political agenda to promote the divinity of the man Jesus Christ and use his influence to solidify their own power base.

The petitioner has also prayed for ad interim ex- parte stay against the exhibition of movie and circulation of the novel.

The petitioner has also alleged that both the book and the movie are likely to affect public order and propogate negatively against the Christianity,Jesus Christ and Holy Bible.''The movie is provocative.It is surprising that the author of the novel Dan Brown,is himself a Christian.'' The petition is likely to be mentioned before the vacation bench on May 31 for seeking permission to be listed for early hearing.

UNI AKS/SC RP RK1850