Friday, Apr 19, 2024 | Last Update : 09:07 AM IST
SC imposes Rs 20L fine on Bengal for stalling film
Their apprehension that the film was taken off from the theatres within a day of its release on February 15 is not unfounded.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday held that freedom of speech and expression is paramount in a democracy and directed the West Bengal government to pay a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the producer and director of a Bengali film, Bhobishyoter Bhoot — a satire on ghosts, for preventing its public exhibition in theatres.
Giving this ruling, a bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta agreed with the submission of the producer, Indibility Creative Pvt Ltd, that the state government and the Kolkata police have caused an “utterly unlawful obstruction of the public exhibition of their Bengali feature film”. Their apprehension that the film was taken off from the theatres within a day of its release on February 15 is not unfounded.
The bench pointed out that letter from the poli-ce to the producer specifically mentions that they were directed by the authorities to discontinue the screening in the “interest of the guests”.
“We have no manner of doubt that this was a clear abuse of public power. The police is entrusted with enforcing law. In the present case, the West Bengal police has over-reached their statutory powers,” it said.
