Kerala HC DB Declines To Stay Single Judge's Order Directing Exhibition Of "S DURGA" In IFFI [Read Order]

The Division Bench of Kerala High Court has refused to stay the operation of the order of the Single Bench directing exhibition of the film “S DURGA" in IFFI. While considering the appeal filed by Union Ministry for admission in the forenoon session, the Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Antony Dominic and Justice Muhammed Mustaque refused to stay the operation of the Single Bench. The Division Bench flatly refused the prayer for interim stay in the open court.

Later in the afternoon, the case was specially called in chambers and the order passed in the forenoon session was recalled and modified. The order passed in forenoon was modified stating that the jury will watch the certified version of the film, and that the exhibition in the IFFI will be on the basis of the jury decision after watching the certified version. However it was clarified even in the modified order that there was no stay of the directions or the Single Judge.

It is pertinent to recall that several jury members, including the Chairman Mr. Sujoy Ghosh have already resigned. Earlier this week the Single Judge had ordered that the film was to be screened.

The Single Judge had rejected the argument of the Ministry that  the certified version could not be screened, as the jury had watched the uncertified version. The Single Bench had observed that if the jury had found the uncertified version eligible for exhibition, then the certified version would be all the more eligible.IFFI ends on November 28.