The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today dismissed a petition seeking a stay on the release of the film Shikara, which is based on the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from the valley..While dismissing the PIL filed by three social activists, the Division Bench of Justices Ali Mohammad Magray and DS Thakur also held that the media ought not allow any discussion to take place which may have a polarizing effect.."The media shall not allow any discussion amounting to polarization of the issue resulting in any communal riots."Jammu and Kashmir High Court.The PIL was filed by three social activists who had sought the stay on the release of the film on the grounds that the issue involved in the film is sensitive and may lead to polarization and cause communal riots..Earlier, the High Court had felt that the matter was of urgent nature, owing to the claims made and the relief sought. While issuing notice to the Centre and the Jammu & Kashmir administration, the High Court had fixed the date for hearing on Friday morning..The PIL had claimed that several scenes and depictions in the film were objectionable and purportedly suggested that one community of the valley was responsible for the exodus of another, giving it a "communal" colour. .The film, if released, had the potential to cause communal riots, the petitioners had claimed in their petition. Therefore, they sought a direction to withhold the exhibition of the film till it was reviewed and censored by the concerned authorities.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today dismissed a petition seeking a stay on the release of the film Shikara, which is based on the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from the valley..While dismissing the PIL filed by three social activists, the Division Bench of Justices Ali Mohammad Magray and DS Thakur also held that the media ought not allow any discussion to take place which may have a polarizing effect.."The media shall not allow any discussion amounting to polarization of the issue resulting in any communal riots."Jammu and Kashmir High Court.The PIL was filed by three social activists who had sought the stay on the release of the film on the grounds that the issue involved in the film is sensitive and may lead to polarization and cause communal riots..Earlier, the High Court had felt that the matter was of urgent nature, owing to the claims made and the relief sought. While issuing notice to the Centre and the Jammu & Kashmir administration, the High Court had fixed the date for hearing on Friday morning..The PIL had claimed that several scenes and depictions in the film were objectionable and purportedly suggested that one community of the valley was responsible for the exodus of another, giving it a "communal" colour. .The film, if released, had the potential to cause communal riots, the petitioners had claimed in their petition. Therefore, they sought a direction to withhold the exhibition of the film till it was reviewed and censored by the concerned authorities.