BREAKING | Gujarat High Court Allows Release Of Film 'Maharaj' On Netflix

The Gujarat High Court has lifted a stay order imposed on the OTT release of the film 'Maharaj' starring actor Amir Khan's son Junaid Khan.A single bench of Justice Sangeeta K Vishen allowed the release of the film on Netflix.The film had been slated to release on the 18th of June, but a stay order had been imposed on its release, which was vacated by the High Court today. The stay order was passed on a plea which alleged that the film hurt certain religious sentiments and thus its release should be withheld.During the previous hearing, Justice Vishen while hearing the plea had stated that she would watch the film before holding further hearings.Justice Vishen stated, “Having viewed the film, this court found nothing objectionable that would hurt the religious feelings of petitioners or a sect. The core message of the film, as has been rightly contended by the respondents,, focuses on the social evil and the fight against the same by social reformer Karsandas Mulji who himself was from a Vaishnavite community.” “Except the apprehension of the petitioner, the film, in no manner, affects or hurts the religious feeling. The film concludes by saying that 'a sect is far more important than any individual or incident'. Treating this incident as an exception, the Vaishnav sect continued on the path of the religion. The sect and its followers continue to grow and remain a proud and integral part of the social, cultural and religious fabric of India,” Justice Vishen stated further.The court also noted that the petitioners' fears of public disorder were unfounded, as a book on the case had been published in 2013 and had not led to any incidents.“Thus, the primary grievances raised by senior counsel Mihir Joshi (representing petitioners) that the film runs down the religion or defames or insults or is derogatory to any religion has no force. Thus this court is constrained to come to the conclusion that apprehensions of petitioners are based on surmises…This court arrives at the prima facie conclusion that film Maharaj is based on events that led to the filing of the libel case and is not targeted or hurting the sentiments of Pushtimargi sect,” the court concluded.

BREAKING | Gujarat High Court Allows Release Of Film 'Maharaj' On Netflix

Srinjoy Das

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