Delhi HC refuses urgent hearing on Hindu Sena president's plea against 'Adipurush'

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday declined a plea for urgent hearing on a petition for immediate ban on movie 'Adipurush' for hurting sentiments of Hindu community in the name of creative liberty and artistic representation.

A vacation bench of Justices Tara Vitasta Ganju and Amit Mahajan said that the matter would come up for hearing on already fixed date of June 30.

A counsel, appearing for the petitioner, 'Hindu Sena' and its president Vishnu Gupta sought listing of the plea either on Wednesday or on Friday.

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"There are many controversial scenes in the movie. The film was released on June 16. When the teaser of the movie was released there was an outcry, the director promised to remove parts, but it wasn't removed, similarly when the trailer of the movie was released it happened again, they promised again. Currently, it hinges the international relations, even Nepal has banned the movie", the counsel contended.

The court, however, said that the matter would be taken up on June 30 as the film has already been released.

The petition filed through advocate Pratibha Sinha claimed that the depiction of Ravana, Lord Ram, Mata Sita and Hanuman in the feature film 'Adipurush' is contrary to the image and descriptions of these religious leaders /characters/figures as depicted in Maharishi Valmiki's 'Ramayan' and Tulsidas' 'Ramcharitmanas'.

The plea sought a direction to cancel certificate of movie 'Adipurush' and immediately ban it for hurting sentiments of Hindu community.

The plea contended film makers, producers, and actors cannot be permitted to take an unimpeded creative liberty to commercialize the religious leaders, characters, their faces, personalities and looks including hair, in a sheer violation of religious rights under Article 25 of the Constitution.