Supreme Court stays Bengal ban on movie 'The Kerala Story'
New Delhi : The Supreme Court of India on Thursday stayed ban imposed by the West Bengal government on the screening of movie The Kerala Story, directing the makers to add a disclaimer stating that 32,000 women in Kerala were compelled to convert to Islam and join ISIS, lacks substantiating evidence and should be regarded as a work of fiction.
The judges, headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, emphasized that the state government is responsible for upholding law and order since the film has received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
"Prima facie we are of the view that the prohibition by West Bengal is not tenable on the basis of material before. Thus, the order banning the film is stayed," the court ordered.
Furthermore, the court ordered Tamil Nadu to prioritize the safety of moviegoers, acknowledging that although the state had not imposed a ban on the film, theater owners had chosen to halt its screening due to security apprehensions.
The film directed by Sudipto Sen, which was released in theaters on May 5th, stirred up controversy by making unsubstantiated claims that thousands of women in Kerala were coerced into converting to Islam and joining ISIS. Critics have rightly pointed out that these claims lack any evidence.
