MARY ROY Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR KOTTAYAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal, under S.10 of the Kerala Dramatic Performance Act, 1961 (Act 41 of 1961), preferred against the proceedings of the District Collector and District Magistrate, Kottayam dated 15-10-1990. By the said proceedings, the District Collector and District Magistrate, Kottayam, in exercise of the powers vested in him under S.4(2) of the Act prohibited the staging of the drama "Jesus Christ Super Star" for a period of two months in any part of Kottayam District. The appellant is the Principal, Corpus Christi High School. The proposal was to stage the said drama at Corpus Christi High School on the 15th of October, 1990 and later changed to 16th of October, 1990.

(2.) Representations were made to the District Collector and District Magistrate, Kottayam by representatives of various Christian Churches and by the laity to ban the drama "Jesus Christ Super Star" which was proposed to be staged at the Corpus Christi School, Kottayam as it was sacrilegious and blasphemous. It was complained that the drama was intended to wound the religious feelings of the Christian Community. One of the representations was signed by 3381 persons. The main objections to the drama, as detailed in the proceedings of the District Collector and District Magistrate dated 15-10-1990, are as follows:

(3.) We heard counsel for the appellant. At the outset, we should mention that the appellant herself has brought to our notice, by way of an additional affidavit filed in support of C.M.P.No. 5249 of 1990, that due to subsequent events she filed O.P.No.9741 of 1990 praying for the issue of certain reliefs, wherein the legality or propriety of the order that is now appealed against is also raised.