Padmavati row: SC dismisses plea to delete 'objectionable scenes'

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed a petition seeking deletion of certain alleged objectionable scenes from Bollywood movie 'Padmavati', calling it "premature". A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra observed that Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has not yet given certificate to the movie and the apex court cannot "injunct" a statutory body from doing its duty.

A scene from Padmavati

"We have been apprised that the film has not yet received the certificate from the CBFC. In view of the aforesaid, our interference in this writ petition will tantamount to pre-judging, which we are not inclined to do," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said. The bench also struck off certain paragraphs from the plea filed by advocate M L Sharma, saying pleadings in a court "are not meant to create any kind of disharmony in the society". The bench elaborated on the functioning of CBFC in certifying a film and said "CBFC is a statutory body. How can the court injunct a statutory body not to exercise its duty?" It also said the court cannot direct the CBFC to decide a matter in a particular manner as it was for the board to take a call.