The Kerala Story Can Now Play In West Bengal As SC Lifts Stay On Ban

The Supreme Court has stayed the ban imposed by the West Bengal government on the screening of The Kerala Story.

This means that the movie can be now screened in the state.

On May 8 the Bengal government had banned the film saying that it would create communal tensions.

The makers of the movie told the court that they would add to the present disclaimer that the film-maker has no authentic data to back the figure of 32,000 conversions Hindu and Christians to Islam. They also said that they would add that the content is a fictionalised account.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala said that they would watch the movie in July when they take up appeals against the decisions of the High Courts of Kerala and Madras which had refused to entertain pleas to ban the film in those respective states.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Bench that the movie is being screened across India and the apprehensions are fictional. He also said that those who do not want to watch the film can choose to do so.

The court then said that it will define the doctrine as to what could be permissible and impermissible in a film.

The Bench also said that it would define all parameters and contours of free speech even as advocate Hufeza Ahmadi said that the continuance of the screening of the movie will create deep divide in society even if it may not result in physical violence.