Punjab & Haryana High Court Closes Plea Against 'Lawrence Of Punjab' Web Series After Centre Advises Zee5 Against Its Release

The Punjab & Haryana High Court today disposed of a plea seeking urgent stay on streaming of web series “Lawrence of Punjab”, after the Central government advised the OTT platform ZEE5 against its release.

The division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Pramod Goyal noted that the Punjab government had written to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on April 22, urging to refrain its release and to block access to its trailer.

The Ministry has advised ZEE5 not to release the series, ASG Satyapal Jain appearing for the Union Government informed the Court.

"....Punjab Police has informed that there exists a reasonable apprehension that the release of the said documentary is prejudicial to public order and has the potential to incite the commission of cognizable offences," the Ministry has told the platform.

Punjab AG Maninderjit Singh Bedi submitting that the Government is against such movies which glorifies crime and spoils the youth, informed that the Court that the State has blocked over 2,600 links relating to glorification of Bishnoi's crimes.

"That's a good move taken by you," remarked the Chief Justice.

The development comes in a PIL filed by Ludhiana MP Raja Warring through Advocate Nikhil Ghai.

Ghai contended that the impugned web series is based on the life and activities of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and seeks to depict his “rise” from a student leader to the head of a criminal syndicate.

He submitted that the portrayal of a real-life gangster's rise, power, and influence may glorify criminal activity; such content could have an adverse impact on impressionable minds, particularly the youth; It may disturb public order and societal harmony in a sensitive state like Punjab, Streaming such content without adequate safeguards reflects a lack of responsible regulation of OTT platforms.

"Content on internet-based platforms has a far wider reach compared to print media, and its audio-visual nature makes it more impactful and influential. Such content can be easily accessed by a large section of society, including both literate and illiterate persons, thereby increasing the risk of youth and other impressionable individuals being influenced and drawn towards criminal or gangster-related activities," the Punjab government's letter to the Centre stated.

In this context. the availability of the said content online poses a significant risk to public order, it added.

AMARINDER SINGH RAJA WARRING V/S UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

Advocate Nikhil Ghai for the petitioner.

Senior Advocate AG Maninderjit Singh Bedi for Punjab.

Senior Advocate ASG Satyapal Jain for Union,