The Supreme Court issued a notice to West Bengal on May 12 in response to a suit filed by the makers of The Kerala Story challenging the state government's decision to ban the film.
The West Bengal administration was questioned by a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha, who stated that the film is being screened without trouble in the rest of the country and there appears to be no foundation for the restriction.
Movie is currently being screened throughout the country, including in states with comparable demographics, without any issues arising.
The bench clarified to senior lawyer Abhishek Singhvi, who represented the West Bengal government, that this matter is unrelated to the artistic value of the film.
The bench cautioned that if people do not appreciate the movie, they have the choice to not watch it.
The court also ordered the Tamil Nadu government to provide information about the security measures in place for cinemas showing The Kerala Story.
The bench reprimanded lawyer Amit Anand Tiwari, who represented the Tamil Nadu government, stating that the state government cannot ignore incidents of theatre attacks and chair bunnings.
This response was made after Tiwari argued against the prohibition of the film.
Senior attorney Harish Salve, representing the film's producers, argued that there is a de facto ban in Tamil Nadu since showing locations have been threatened and have cancelled screenings.
Notices have been issued to both states, and they are expected to provide their responses by Wednesday i.e. May 17. The bench has scheduled the hearing for Thursday i.e. May 18. The film is being shown in multiple regions across the country that share similar demographics.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud clarifies that this decision is unrelated to the film's artistic merit, which may be either good or bad.
The Supreme Court has also ordered the Tamil Nadu government to provide details on the security arrangements in place for theatres screening "The Kerala Story."
On May 8, the West Bengal government banned the release of the contentious film 'The Kerala Story' in theatres. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has prohibited the screening of 'The Kerala Story' indefinitely.
Mamata Banerjee asserts that 'The Kerala Story' is a film that presents a distorted narrative with the intention of maligning the reputation of the southern state.
With the objective of ensuring a peaceful state and avoiding instances of hatred and violence, the West Bengal government has chosen to impose a ban on the film "The Kerala Story.
