MPHC rules in favour of 'Jodhaa-Akbar' screening

Jabalpur, Feb 26 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh High Court today struck down the state government's suspension of screening of the Bollywood blockbuster 'Jodhaa-Akbar'.

In a roughly four hour-long hearing, Chief Justice Anang Kumar Patnaik and Justice Prakash Shrivastav ruled in favour of a plea -- submitted by the film's distributor UTV Software Communication Limited -- challenging the suspension.

The bench turned down the government's contention that the screening might disturb peace.

''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.

Justice Shantanu Sharad Kemkar, yesterday, urged the Mr Patnaik to forward the plea to a division bench as he felt that the eventual ruling would impact on the movie's screening across India.

UNI RG-AC GL KP2013