Chandigarh: Harinder Sikka, maker of the Nanak Shah Fakir film, seems to be determined to across all the lines being drawn for him by the Sikh panth. Instead of understanding or adhering to the edict of the Sikh panth to stop release of Nanak Shah Fakir film, now Harinder Sikka wishes to release his film with the backing of an Indian court.
- BREAKING NEWS: PUNJAB GOVERNMENT BANS NANAK SHAH FAKIR FILM IN PUNJAB (APRIL 10, 2018)
In a move that clearly defies the authority of Sikh institutions and rejects the sentiments of the global Sikh Sangat, Harinder Sikka today invoked Indian Supreme Court to clear the release of his controversial film.
The film made in violation of the tenets of the Sikh panth was earlier rejected by the Sikh panth in 2015 when it was first release but backed by the Indian state Harinder Sikka announced to release the film on April 13, 2018.
The global Sikh sangat, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabdhank Committee and SGPC appointed Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, the acting Jathedars appointed by 2015 Panthic Gathering at village Chabba and different Sikh organisations, Sikh personalities and scholars have rejected the film. Gaini Gurbachan Singh, the SGPC appointed Jathedar announced to ban the film yesterday.
There are reports in the media, that Harinder Sikka approached the Supreme Court of India (SCI) which cleared the release of the film.
Reports in Indian media said that the SCI criticised the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for putting restrictions on the release of the movie.
A report in on the website of Outlook Magazine (outlookindia.com) said: “The top court criticised the apex Sikh body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for putting restrictions on the release of the movie, based on the life and teachings of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev“.
However, when the Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) accessed the actual order passed by the Supreme Court of India (SCI) there was no mention of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) or the that the movie was “based on the life and teachings of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev”. (READ ORDER COPY BELOW)
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said once the statutory body like the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has cleared the movie, no individual has the right to impede its release.
The Indian court’s argument is clearly ignores the fact that the question of primary concern was not the clearance of the release of the movie by some Indian board for film certification when the Sikh principles and Sikh tradition clearly forbids any sort of visual presentation of the Sikh Gurus, their families and great Gursikhs and companions of Sikh Guru Sahiban. Anything done in violation of complete probation to do an act can not be validated with the approval by some certification authority. Anything void ab initio, can not be validated afterwards.
The bench headed by Chief Justice of India against whom serious allegations were levelled by four senior most judges of the SCI regarding alleged irregularities in the working of India’s apex court, has reportedly asked all the states to maintain law and order and ensure smooth screening of the film.
READ COPY OF ORDER ISSUED BY SCI:
(Last modified and updated on April 10, 2018 at 5:37 pm as per Amritsar Standard Time)