Delhi HC refuses to hear plea seeking stay on release of film PM Narendra Modi

The Delhi High Court today dismissed a plea seeking a stay on the release of the film ‘PM Narendra Modi Movie’, until the results of the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections are declared..The petition also sought a direction to the Election Commission of India to act against the violation of the Moral Code of Conduct by the makers of the film..A Division Bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Anup Bhambhani refused to entertain the public interest litigation after being informed that the Bombay High Court, as well as the Election Commission, was already seized with the issue..Moved by Advocate Sujeet Kumar Singh, the petition sought a stay on the release of the film for a period during which the Model Code of Conduct has come into force for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections..The petition filed through Singh states that the film cannot be considered to be completely cut-off from the concerned political party and the political personality..“…The said movie cannot be said to be totally uninfluenced and independent of the political personality whose name and life the biopic film is based. This can be corroborated by the fact that the Co-Producer of the said film- Mr. Samdip Ssing while launching the second official poster of the film on Twitter , Tagged Shri Narender Modi to the said Post dated 18.03-2019.”.The petitioner thus argues that “such a grand biopic film” on a political personality contesting the elections would provide an “undue benefit and leverage” and hamper free and fair elections..“Small and regional parties will simply not be able to meet these kinds of challenges or commission films that are similarly grand and released simultaneously in so many theatres. Thus in one way or the other, this is a violation of the novel principle of equality as per Article 14 & 15 of the Constitution of India.”.Thus, it was prayed that the Court impose a stay on the film’s release and uphold democracy and rule of law..PM Narendra Modi Movie, a biopic on the current Prime Minister of India, is scheduled to release on April 12..Election Commission was represented by Standing Counsel Siddhant Kumar. .Bar & Bench is available on WhatsApp. For real-time updates on stories, Click here to subscribe to our WhatsApp.