'Ancient Work & Scriptures Are Open To Debate': Allahabad HC Dismisses Plea Of 'Oversensitive' Petitioner Against Telecast Of Hindu-Epic Series Vishnu Puran [Read Order]

"We do not consider it proper to act on the apparent over sensitivity of the petitioner who believes in a particular line of thought and finds himself opposed to another view or thought being represented in the TV serial of which he is neither a creator nor the participant, but a mere spectator that too with an option to watch or not to watch such a show," a vacation bench comprised by Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh observed.

The Petitioner, Santosh Kumar Jaiswal had approached the High Court raising objection over representation of certain characters in the show, and had contended that Lord Vishnu and other dieties in whom he had belief were being misrepresented.

Rejecting the submissions, the bench was of the opinion that the show was a work of art based on certain scriptures, and merely because it exhibited certain "inaccuracies" could not be a ground to restrain its telecast.

The court further said that ancient work such as the Vishnu Puran are "open to debate" and therefore the court could not pass any direction based on the "over-sensitive" approach opted by the Petitioner.

"Without allowing for any debate to arise, as is being sought by the petitioner, it is undisputed that the objectionable work is basically a work of art for entertainment. It may be based on certain scriptures or ancient works and therefore it may suffer from inaccuracy and mistakes either deliberate or otherwise.

Leaving that possibility apart, ancient work such as the 'Vishnu Puran' and other texts are always open to debate and discussion resulting in multiple views arising and being discussed even at the level of religious teachers and people spiritually inclined. That in part is the beauty of plurality that our society practices," the court said.

Accordingly, the PIL was dismissed.

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