NEW DELHI: Delivering a landmark verdict against state-level attempts to stifle artistic expression under the pretext of religious sensitivities, the highest court of the land has issued a decisive legal order. The Supreme Court of India firmly dismissed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Odisha government seeking an immediate stay on the theatrical release of the film ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’. A bench headed by the Chief Justice explicitly ruled that once the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) grants clearance after due scrutiny, state governments cannot arbitrarily block a film’s public exhibition without substantial legal grounds.
According to authoritative judicial briefs unraveled during the hearing, the Odisha administration argued that certain scenes and dialogues could hurt the religious sentiments of devotees, creating potential law-and-order disruptions within the state. However, the Supreme Court bench categorically rejected this stance, observing that maintaining public order is a constitutional duty of the state executive, rather than a justification to censor certified cinema. The court further directed local authorities to ensure absolute physical security for theaters screening the film on release day.
This firm, transparent judicial verdict delivers a crushing, direct blow to political toolkit syndicates and radical pressure groups that attempt to undermine freedom of speech through threats of civil unrest. Operating under the binding principles of ‘Nation First’ constitutional governance and relying on the institutional bench strength of the judiciary, the Supreme Court enforced a strict ‘Zero Tolerance’ stance against mob censorship. With this landmark authorization, filmmakers and distributors are now proceeding entirely on the front foot to execute the nationwide release.