New Delhi, India (April 11, 2013): It is learnt that on April 11, 2013 the actor-producer Kuljinder Sidhu moved to the Supreme Court of India against the ban imposed on his film ‘Sadda Haq’ by state governments of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi.
The film was banned by Punjab Government under pressure from high-ups in Punjab police and bureaucracy who watched the movie at Punjab Bhawan on April 04. The movie was banned on late evening of April 04 whereas it was scheduled to be released on April 05. Although there was no official ban, but the film was not screened in Jammu and Kashmir as well.
Sadda Haq Punjabi Movie
It is further learnt that the bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir asked: “There has been no ban on the screening of the film in other states. Why ban has been imposed only in Delhi, Punjab and Chandigarh”.
As per media reports Advocate Wasim Ahmed Qadri, appearing for the Delhi Government said, the ban was only in these three states as the screening of the film could affect a section of population belonging to a particular community, which is quite sizable, and there could have been consequential fall-outs on peace and tranquility.
He said situation on ground realities have been taken into account by the government before banning the film, the story line of which also covers incidents of the 1984 violence against Sikhs, Punjab militancy and the alleged brutalities.
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the producer recalled that the apex court bench had in the past quashed the Uttar Pradesh government’s order suspending the screening of Prakash Jha’s film Aarakshan.
Qadri urged the court not to pass any interim order on the plea by petitioner.
Kuljinder Singh at Supreme Court of India – Files petition against ban imposed by various Governments on Sadda Haq (April 11, 2013)
Kuljinder Singh Sidhu reportedly told certain sections of media that they (producers of the movie) decided to file a petition with the Supreme Court of India since they were losing precious time and the government was not listening to them.
“Even today I tried to meet deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal in Delhi but I got no appointment. Hence I had no option but to file a petition with the Supreme Court against the ban,” he reportedly added.
He further showed confidence that the Supreme Court’s verdict will be in the favour of movie and said that no incidents of tension were reported in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh where the film was screened.
“Earlier when the Punjab and Uttar Pradesh government had imposed a ban on the Movie Aarakshan, the chief justice of India has given a verdict in the favour of the movie and the ban was lifted. On the same grounds we are hopeful that our movie will also be allowed to go into the public domain. Besides we have Censor Board’s certification for the movie,” he said adding that the state governments have been asked to appear in court on April 16, 2013.
Kuljinder Sidhu also added that the movie is still running in cinemas at Mumbai, Hamirpur and Indore while the screening in theaters of Karnal and Kurukshetra was stopped two days back.