Supreme Court Closes All Cases Pending In High Courts Against 'Adipurush' Movie

The Supreme Court on Monday(October 9) put a closure to all cases pending in different High Courts against the movie "Adipurush". 

Hearing a transfer petition filed by the producer of the film seeking to transfer to the Top Court the cases from different High Courts, the Court ordered to put a closure to all such pending proceedings. The Court in no uncertain terms opined that “All these matters must closed now”.

“...the film now having been released we are of the view, that all the proceedings related to this film filed in different courts are futile exercise which must stand closed. Thus, we consider it appropriate to close the proceedings pending before different high Courts related to the subject matter in issue, film having been released pursuant to the certification of the competent authority constituted under Cinematography act, 1952.” ordered Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia.

It may be recalled that these impugned petitions are pending in the High Courts of Rajasthan, Punjab & Haryana and Allahabad seeking to ban the movie and quash the Central Board of Film Certification granted to it for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Hindus and devotees of various deities depicted in the movie by “destroying their fundamental values and characters” and modifying the ‘basic structure’ of Valmiki Ramayana.

Previously, on September 11, 2023, the Apex Court granted the interim relief that there shall be stay of further proceedings in these matters, pending before different High Courts.

Proceedings Before the Allahabad High Court

It may be noted that in a petition filed before the Allahabad High Court, a division bench of Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Shree Prakash Singh came down heavily on the movie and slammed its makers and went to the extent of saying that certifying the movie was a blunder and that the ‘tolerance of Hindus was being put to test’. The High Court sought the personal presence of movie Director (Om Raut), Producer (Bhushan Kumar) and Dialogue Writer (Manoj Muntashir Shukla) for explanation and posted the matter to July 27.

However, the Supreme Court, granted interim relief to the makers of the film “Adipurush”, by staying all High Court proceedings against the movie makers while also issuing notice in the makers’ plea challenging the direction of the Allahabad High Court seeking the personal appearance of the director, producer and the dialogue writer of the movie.

SUPER CASSETTES INDUSTRIES PVT. LTD vs. KULDEEP TIWARI, T.P.(C) No. 1802-1809/2023