M A I N   N E W S

Punjab, AP to SC: Ban on ‘Aarakshan’ lifted 
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, August 16
Punjab and Andhra Pradesh today informed the Supreme Court that there was no longer any ban on the release of Bollywood film “Aarakshan” in the two states, while the court issued a notice to Uttar Pradesh on a petition filed by producer Prakash Jha seeking a stay on the restrictions against his Rs 65-crore production.

rguing before a Bench comprising Justices MK Sharma and AR Dave, senior counsel Harish Salve contended that the state governments could ban any film, citing law and order problem as a reason, only after the release.

This legal position had been clarified by the judiciary in the case relating to another Bollywood film “Jodha Akbar”, he said.

The Bench passed an order recording the statements of Punjab and AP that “they have withdrawn the orders of restrictions” and directing them to file their affidavits in this regard within three days.

Besides UP, the court also sought the Centre’s response to Jha’s petition and listed the case for next hearing on August 19. The film, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and others, was released across the country on August 12, except Punjab, UP and AP.

Jha filed a writ petition in the SC, describing the ban in the three states as “biased and arbitrary”. The state governments had no power to appoint committees to assess the film and place restrictions after the Central Board of Film Certification had given the clearance for exhibition, he contended.