'The Taj Story' film row: Delhi High Court refuses urgent hearing on PIL

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused an urgent hearing on a public interest litigation filed against the certification given to the film, The Taj Story, which is slated for nationwide release on October 31.

 

A bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya said the matter would be taken up in the normal course. Usually, Wednesdays are designated days for the Chief Justice’s bench to hear PILs.

 

The petition filed by one Shakeel Abbas through advocate Shakil Sheikh had sought a review of the certification, citing fabrication of facts and propagation of a "communal propaganda”.

 

He sought directions from the court to the authorities to ensure that appropriate disclaimers are displayed prominently in all promotional material and credits. Directions were also sought to all state agencies to take preventive measures to ensure that no communal incident arises following the film's release. 

 

The PIL alleged that the film contains fabricated and provocative content that could disturb public order. It said the movie’s trailer, launched on October 16, depicts the Taj Mahal's dome lifting to reveal a figure of Lord Shiva, suggesting that the monument was originally a temple. 

 

Such imagery and narrative risk inciting communal tension and misrepresenting India's composite heritage, the petitioner said.

 

The petition has been moved under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, invoking the court's writ jurisdiction to issue directions to the Union of India, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). 

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