MPHC divn bench to hear 'Jodhaa-Akbar' plea

Jabalpur, Feb 25 (UNI) A single bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court today urged Chief Justice Anang Kumar Patnaik to forward to a division bench a plea challenging the state government's suspending screening of the controversial film 'Jodhaa-Akbar'.

While hearing the petition of distributor UTV Software Communication Ltd, Justice Shantanu Sharad Kemkar felt that the plea should be forwarded as the eventual ruling would impact on the movie's screening across India.

''By invoking powers contained in the Madhya Pradesh Cinema Regulation Act, 1952, the state regime restricted the Freedom of Expression enshrined in the Constitution besides affecting business interests of the distributor,'' submitted petitioner's Counsel Akshay Dharmadhikari.

The government was represented by Advocate-General Ravinandan Singh.

UNI RG-AC 2100