SWAMI AGNIVESH Vs. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition seeks directions to the Central Board of Film Certification, to take "appropriate steps to stop glorification of the practice of 'Sati' by deleting the relevant scenes from the film "Padmaavat".

(2.) The petition is premised on two articles, one by Ms. Charu Gupta in the Indian Express dated 31st of January 2018 captioned "United in misogyny" and another article written by an actor Ms. Swara Bhasker in the Wire captioned "At the End of Your Magnum Opus ... I Felt Reduced to a Vagina - Only". A copy of this article, which stands handed over to this court, would show that it was written on the 27th of January 2018. The petitioner submits that that after reading these two articles relating to the film Padmaavat, he himself wanted to check the veracity of the contentions made therein regarding glorification of the practices 'Sati' and 'Jauhar' and therefore, personally watched the film at the PVR Plaza in New Delhi. Having seen the movie, the petitioner is convinced that the abhorrent practice of 'Sati' has been glorified out of proportion in the said movie.

(3.) The present writ petition, filed against the Union of India (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) (respondent no.1); Delhi Police (respondent no.2); Central Board of Film Certification (respondent no.3); Ajit Andhare, Producer, Padmaavat (respondent no.4) and Mr. Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Director & Producer - Padmaavat) (respondent no.5), seeks the following prayers :