[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Supreme Court today (Monday, July 8) dismissed a plea by Brahman Samaj seeking ban on screening of the movie Article 15 and cancellation of certificate issued to it by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The top court said that the petitioner can approach the ‘appropriate authority’ with their grievances against the name and content of the movie, said media reports.

 “Why don’t you approach the appropriate authority,” a bench of justices SA Bobde and BR Gavai told the counsel appearing for the petitioner.

The petition filed by the Brahman Samaj of India (BSOI) claimed that the film contained casteist elements and was a concocted story portrayed as a true event. It said that the movie spreads caste hatred and portrays upper castes in bad light.

Alleging that there were objectionable dialogues spreading rumour and caste hatred in society, it argued that the movie would incite public disorder and caste violence.

The plea said the film violated the constitutional spirit and sought a direction to the CBFC to cancel the certification granted to Benaras Media Works Pvt. Ltd.

The petition also objected to the title of the film by stating that commercial use of ‘Article 15’ violates Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1950.

Allowing the use of Constitutional provisions as film titles will create misconception in the minds of people about the Constitution and should not be permitted, said the petition.

The Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Article 15 that hit the screens on June 28 is based on the issue of atrocities against Dalits in the light of Badaun gang rape-murders of 2014 and Una floggings of 2016 which took place in Uttar Pradesh.

After the court said the petitioner should approach the appropriate authority with their grievances, the counsel withdrew the petition with liberty to approach the authority concerned.

The Uttarakhand High Court had last week reportedly criticized the SDM Roorkee who had issued prohibitory orders against the screening of the film.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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