Gujarat High Court to watch film 'Maharaj' to decide whether it hurts religious sentiments

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday said it would watch the film "Maharaj" and then decide the plea seeking a stay on the film's release on the Over The Top (OTT) platform Netflix [Bharat Pranjivandas Mandalia vs Union of India]..The film starring Junaid Khan, son of actor Aamir Khan was slated to be released on Netflix on June 18. However, the same was stayed by an interim order on June 12. The stay continues as of now. Single-judge Justice Sangeeta Vishen said she would first watch the film and decide whether any part in the movie hurts any religious sentiment, as claimed by the petitioners who are the devotees of Lord Krishna and follow the Pustimarg sect. "I will watch the film as all the parties have agreed to it and given up their arguments. I will watch the film and decide if any scene in the film is objectionable or can hurt any religious sentiments," Justice Vishen said. This development came about after Senior Advocates Shalin Mehta and Jal Unwalla, appearing for Yashraj Films and Netflix, suggested the Court to watch the film and decide whether the allegations in the petition are true or not. ."They claim that the film speaks about the controversial trial and the excerpts of the judgment in it are used in the film. It is our case, that out of the 2 hours 30 minutes film only 20 minutes are dedicated to the trial and the judgment is not at all read in the entire film. There is only one scene of the judgment wherein the judge says trial went on for 7 days and some witnesses were examined and the case is dismissed. So the apprehension they have that the excerpts of the judgment are used which may cause disturbance in the society etc are incorrect," Mehta argued. Senior Advocate Mihir Joshi, appearing for the petitioners, too agreed with the suggestion of the court to watch the film first. The bench accepted the suggestion and said it will watch the film and decide the matter. The case would be heard next on June 20. .The petitioners moved the Court contending that the film allegedly based on the Libel Case of 1862, could disrupt public order and incite violence against the sect and the Hindu religion. The petitioners highlighted that the 1862 case, decided by English judges of the Supreme Court of Bombay, contained severely blasphemous remarks about Hinduism, Lord Krishna and devotional songs and hymns.It was argued that the film's release was being done secretively with no trailer or promotional events. This was done to conceal its storyline, it was alleged. The petitioners further contended that releasing the movie would cause irreparable harm to their religious sentiments and despite urgently appealing to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to block the film's release, they received no response.