38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, August 29, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

SC to await Centre's decision on movie 'Udaipur Files'; refuses to lift stay for now

By Jhanak Sharma      17 July, 2025 11:37 AM      0 Comments
SC to await Centres decision on movie Udaipur Files refuses to lift stay for now

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to lift the Delhi High Court's stay order on release of movie 'Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor murder', after noting that the Union government has formed a committee to examine a plea against clearance of the film by the CBFC.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymala Bagchi said the central government can go ahead with examining the movie as directed by the High Court.

"We deem it appropriate to defer the hearing and await the outcome of proceedings pending before the central government," the bench said.

The movie was said to be based on killing of tailor Kanhaiya Lal for supporting Nupur Sharma in June, 2022. The macabre act by the religious fanatics was recorded on camera, sending shockwaves across the country.

Also Read: SC to hear plea against HC order staying release of film 'Udaipur Files'

Considering a challenge to the HC's order, the bench asked the movie producers and those opposing its release to wait for a day or two as the Union government has formed a committee to examine matter, following the High Court's stay order of July 10, just a day ahead of the scheduled release.

The bench said committee should take an immediate decision on the issue, as it fixed the matter for further consideration on July 21.

The court also allowed the movie producers and son of the deceased tailor to approach the police with their representations as it was contended they received threats from radical groups.

Also Read: SC refuses to urgently list plea against release of movie 'Udaipur Files' on July 11

Senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia, appearing for the movie producers, submitted that the film has been cleared by the CBFC, its release should be allowed if the decision is taken by the committee in a day or two. He also said the producers have also got fundamental rights.

The court, however, said if the movie was released, petitions filed here would become infructuous.

It also pointed out the High Court has only relegated the parties to avail the remedy, available in the statute.

Though the release of the movie could cause irreparable damage, the impact of the delay could be compensated, the bench felt.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Jamiat Ulema-i- Hind, which filed a plea in the High Court, claimed that the movie has vilified the entire community and should not be allowed to be released.

Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for an accused in the murder case, said free speech cannot be claimed to violate the right to fair trial or lower the moral strength of the judiciary.

Also Read: Jamiat Ulema files plea in Delhi HC against release of movie 'Udaipur Files'

The court, however, said the judicial officers are trained to deal with a matter with objectivity and would not be swayed by a movie.

The Delhi HC had on July 10 ordered the Central government to exercise its revisional powers under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act to examine the movie.

A batch of three petitions, including one filed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani, were filed before the High Court seeking a ban on the movie based on tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli's murder in Udaipur, for vilifying Muslims.



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS


TOP STORIES

adult-woman-free-to-live-with-married-man-personal-autonomy-prevails-over-morality
Trending Judiciary
Adult Woman Free To Live With Married Man, Personal Autonomy Prevails Over Morality: Madhya Pradesh HC [Read Order]

Adult woman has right to live with married man, rules MP High Court; says personal autonomy outweighs moral concerns.

23 August, 2025 04:00 PM
sc-issues-notice-to-bci-on-plea-against-3-yr-moratorium-on-new-centre-for-legal-education
Trending Judiciary
SC issues notice to BCI on plea against 3-yr moratorium on new centre for legal education

SC issues notice to BCI on plea challenging 3-year moratorium on new legal education centres, calling it arbitrary and violative of fundamental rights.

23 August, 2025 05:13 PM
punjab-and-haryana-hc-upholds-denial-of-furlough-to-life-convict-rules-temporary-release-is-a-concession-not-a-right
Trending Judiciary
Punjab and Haryana HC Upholds Denial of Furlough to Life Convict, Rules Temporary Release Is A Concession, Not A Right [Read Order]

Punjab & Haryana HC upholds denial of furlough to life convict, rules temporary release is a concession, not a right, under 2022 law.

23 August, 2025 05:16 PM
sc-restores-mandatory-20-percent-deposit-for-suspension-of-sentence-in-cheque-bounce-case
Trending Judiciary
SC Restores Mandatory 20% Deposit for Suspension of Sentence in Cheque Bounce Case [Read Order]

SC sets aside P&H HC order; rules 20% deposit mandatory for suspension of sentence in ₹8.65 crore cheque bounce case under NI Act.

25 August, 2025 12:35 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email