Ban on Punjabi movie Sadda Haq prevails: Supreme Court

New Delhi, April 12: The

on Thursday, April 11 refused to lift the

on Bollywood movie Sadda Haq which has been barred from screening in

, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and in many other places.

The movie, which was released worldwide on April 5, is feared to create communal tension. Protesting against the state governments' decision of not allowing the screening of the movie in the states, the producer - Kuljinder Sidhu filed petition in the Supreme Court.

The Sadda Haq (Our Rights) team urged the court to lift the ban. However, the apex court bench of Chief Justice Altamas Kabir, Justice Anil R Dave and Justice Vikramajit Sen refused to take any hurried view on the aptness of the ban on the movie.

The petitioner claimed that the state governments imposed the ban even after the film received No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Central Board of Film Certification.

Clarifying his stand of moving the apex court, the producer was quoted as saying, "...I tried to meet deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal in Delhi but I got no appointment. Hence I had no option but to file a petition with the Supreme Court against the ban."

The Punjabi film is said to be based on the events in the 1980s and 1990s when the state suffered from militancy. The ban on the film came after several senior government officials, including chief secretary of the state watched the film and decided to put a ban.

"The film was banned to maintain communal harmony in the state and it won't be released in theatres till further orders," said a statement from the government. The film is said to glorify the Khalistan movement and its leaders Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, Balbir Singh Rajoana and Jagtar Singh Hawara.

OneIndia News