[BREAKING] Plea before Supreme Court alleges film The Kerala Story promotes hate speech; court says move High Court first

A plea has been filed before the Supreme Court against the release of the upcoming movie, The Kerala Story alleging the same promotes hate speech.

The plea was mentioned on Tuesday by advocate Nizam Pasha before a bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna for urgent listing since the same bench has been hearing another case relating to hate speech.

Justice Joseph, however, remarked that the matter cannot be filed as an interim application in the already pending case since the present case involves a certification of a movie by a statutory authority, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Hence, a separate petition will have to be filed, he said while also adding that the concerned High Court should be moved first.

"We cannot tag it. Why don't you move the concerned High Court first. See a board has certified it through a process," Justice Joseph remarked.

"Lordships may just look at the transcript during the recess. Trailer has already has 16 million views. By tomorrow we will file a substantial Petition," Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said.

The bench then indicated it should have been mentioned before Chief Justice of India first.

"You cannot come directly here always," said Justice Nagarathna.

"This is about Kerala?" Justice Joseph asked

"Yes," replied Sibal

"This can't be the mode of getting relief. An IA in another case," the bench said.

The Kerala Story is a Hindi film about a group of women from Kerala who join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The film has invited criticism with the Kerala's ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress party alleging that it is a propaganda movie promoting fake narrative and agenda of right wing organisations.

The film is slated for release on May 5, Friday.