The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea by social activist Swami Agnivesh seeking deletion of scenes from the Deepika Padukone-starrer 'Padmaavat' on the ground that it eulogised the banned practice of 'Jauhar' and 'Sati' among Hindus.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra rejected Angivesh's plea which also sought lodging of an FIR against the producer and director of the film for glorifying the social evil of 'jauhar' (self immolation by widows on their husband's funeral pyre).
"Once the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) clears the movie, deletion of scenes cannot be directed," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said.
Lawyer Mehmood Pracha, appearing for Agnivesh, said the Delhi High Court failed to appreciate the fact the society would be benefitted if the glorification of 'sati' in the film Padmaavat' was prevented.
The bench, which did not agree with the submissions, referred to the novel "Devdas," written by eminent novelist Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and said, "Read the book and see its celluloid version in which veteran actor Dilip Kumar has performed the role of main character Devdas - who turns alcoholic for the loss of love."
It said that even the writer did not approve or glorify the alcholisim and asked, "Has any lover become alcoholic because of the film Devdas."
The bench said the petitioner was "trying to make mountain out of trivial things" and dismissed the plea.
The activist had filed the appeal against the Delhi High Court order which had rejected his plea for deletion of certain scenes in the movie on the ground that it has already been cleared by the CBFC.
Earlier, the apex court had trashed several petitions against 'Padmaavat's release on various grounds. The producers then had moved the court after some states banned the movie.
The court, on January 18, had set aside the ban and restrained other states from banning the film, paving way for its all-India release on January 25.
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh had moved the apex court seeking recall of the SC order, which was dismissed on January 23.
The Deepika Padukone-starrer 'Padmaavat', based on the saga of a historic 13th century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi, has Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in lead roles.
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