The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : <I>Da Vinci Code</I> screening suspension aimed at "maintaining harmony"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 30, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Da Vinci Code screening suspension aimed at "maintaining harmony"

Special Correspondent

Government files counter to Sony Pictures petition

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Government, which suspended the screening of The Da Vinci Code for two months, has told the Madras High Court that the decision was taken to maintain communal harmony and avert communal tension and violence.

The film created resentment among Christians as well as certain sections of Muslims, a counter-affidavit filed by the Government said. "There is likely to be a breach of peace."

The counter was filed in response to a petition filed by Sony Pictures Releasing of India challenging the suspension order. Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy and two Christian fora too have filed implead petitions.

Fresh assessment

It said that at the end of the two-month suspension period, which commenced on June 1, the Government would assess the situation afresh. It also contended that the petition proceeded on a "legally erroneous premise" that the moment a film obtained a certificate from the Central Board for Film Certification, no authority could interfere with its public exhibition.

The petition failed to consider that Section 13 of the Cinematograph Act empowers the State Government to take such steps as necessary for meeting the exigencies arising post-certification.

`Film condemned'

In a separate counter, Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police Letika Saran submitted that the film had "created an upsurge among the Christians, and the film was condemned by a large section of the minority." The Commissioner said the suspension was passed after the Government directed her to assess the situation and pass appropriate orders.

She said the public impact created by a book and by a film were vastly different from each other, and "the alleged worldwide success of the book is not a relevant consideration under the Cinematograph Act."

Seeking to distinguish the Christian audience here and in the Western countries, the Commissioner said: "Merely because the film has allegedly found acceptance in Western countries and some other parts of India, it would not lend any credibility to the petitioner's case."

"Politically motivated"

Additional Advocate-General P.S. Raman, in his submissions before Justice Prabha Sridevan, referred to Dr. Swamy's allegation that the order was "politically motivated," and said implead petitioners could not argue points other than those canvassed by the original petitioners. Arguments would continue on Friday.

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