NEW DELHI: States must obey orders to screen “Padmaavat”, the Supreme Court said today, underscoring its earlier ruling and rejecting requests by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to block the film over law and order trouble. “It’s an order, better abide by it. You (states) can advise people not to watch the movie,” the judges said.”We passed an order and our orders required to be complied by all,” stressed Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.”People can’t come and say law and order problems, ban the movie. Let us not come to a state where the exhibition of a movie, despite certified by the censor board, is crippled,” he said.Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh had said that they must be allowed to stop the film’s screening if it caused law and order problems, given the violent protests by Rajput groups including the Karni Sena.The Karni Sena was the third petitioner to call for a ban on the film. It argued in court that “Padmaavat” distorts history and “people had been affected emotionally” by the way it depicts legendary Rajput Queen Padmini.The court’s response was curt.”You create trouble and by virtue of it come to court,” said Justice DY Chandrachud.Chief Justice Misra added that experts watched the film before the censor board certified it and the movie carried a disclaimer.After today’s order, states have no more legal options to block “Padmaavat”‘s release on Thursday.Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Haryana had banned the film, despite the censor board go-ahead, amid fierce protests by Rajput groups.
