HC asks petitioner lawyer to watch ''Sacred Evil'',then argue

Mumbai, June 23 (UNI) The Bombay High court today asked the petitioner lawyer Joquim Reis to watch the controversial English movie ''Sacred Evil'' and submit his personal opinion before the court on the next date of hearing, scheduled on June 27.

Division bench comprising of Justice F I Rebello and Justice V K Tahilramani today asked advocate Reis whether he had watched the movie to which he replied in the negative. The court suggested he ''first watch the movie and then argue''.

The court was hearing a petition filed by city based advocate Jerry Coehlo seeking court directives to impose ban on the screening of the movie on the ground that the film contains objectionable shots which are hurting the religious sentiments of the Christian community. The court was also told that the poster of the movie was also objectionable as the holy symbol of Christain community 'the cross' was shown in two black hands.

It may be recalled that the court, in the initial stages of hearing, refused to grant a stay on the screening of the movie but admitted the petition for hearing. On the previous occasion, the petitioner had handed over the CD of the movie to the court for viewing. However the court today did not opine anything about the movie.

UNI XR/LS PM SHB RS1746