New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday junked a petition seeking a stay on the screening of Aamir Khan starrer “PK” for alleged nudity and scenes with a potential to hurt religious sensibilities.
The petitioner, an NGO, had objected to two scenes, one relating to Aamir, 49, posing nude with a strategically placed boom-box, and another of a rickshaw puller, who is dressed up like Lord Shiva and pulling a cycle rickshaw in which two burqa-clad woman are seated.
While throwing out the plea, the apex court said that religion should not be brought into the realm of art and entertainment. “This is art and entertainment. Don’t bring religious facets into it. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. Let others watch,” said an apex court bench of Chief Justice R.M. Lodha, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rohinton Fali Narimam.
The counsel for the NGO, the All India Human Rights & Social Justice, had sought a ban on the film’s screening in India and abroad. The petitioner also contended that the Lord Shiva footage was a criminal offence punishable under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code (deliberate effort to outrage religious feelings).
The court asked the counsel, Nafis Ahmad Siddiqui, if the film has been through the Censor Board and observed, “Others have a right to watch the movie. How is your legal and constitutional right affected?”
“India is a mature society. They know the difference between entertainment and other things,” Chief Justice Lodha said as the counsel told the court that the film would spoil the youth.
To this, the Chief Justice also observed, “It is an age of Internet. What will you hide? The youth are very smart these days.”
