The Hindu : National : PIL seeks direction to Gujarat Government on <I>Fanaa </I>

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 02, 2006

National

National

PIL seeks direction to Gujarat Government on Fanaa

Staff Correspondent

Failure to ensure screening of film amounts to abdication of constitutional duties

NEW DELHI: Bollywood director Mahesh Bhat and Jansangharsh Manch, (a Gujarat-based civil rights organisation) on Thursday filed a Public Interest Litigation petition before the Supreme Court asking it to direct the Gujarat Government to take ``appropriate steps'' against organisations opposing the screening of Fanaa, and ensure the immediate screening of the film in the State.

Mentioning the petition before a two-judge Vacation Bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice C. K. Thakker, senior counsel Colin Gonsalves said certain groups in the State had taken the law into their hands.

``We want the Director-General of Police to ensure the peaceful screening of the film in the State," he said. The court has listed the matter for June 5.

The petition asked the court to declare that the failure of the Gujarat Government to ensure the peaceful screening of the film amounted to an abdication of its constitutional duties.

It also asked the court to declare that the Gujarat Government's failure had resulted in violation of the rights of the citizens of Gujarat to view the film, and violation of the right of freedom of speech and expression of the producers and distributors of the film.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail