New Delhi, 29 October (H.S.): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to grant an urgent hearing to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the release of the upcoming film, 'The Taj Story'. A bench headed by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya stated that the matter would be heard according to the normal listing schedule.The film is slated for release on October 31.
The petition, filed by Shakeel Abbas through advocate Shakeel Sheikh, calls for a review of the Censor Board certificate issued to the movie. The plea insists that the film must display a disclaimer explicitly stating that it does not claim to be a true depiction of history.
The petition raises concerns that the film's release could disrupt communal harmony, alleging that it is based on a specific propaganda and contains factual distortions. It claims that the movie is an attempt to gain political mileage and vitiate the communal atmosphere. The plea further seeks a directive for all relevant agencies to ensure that law and order are maintained and communal peace is not disturbed under any circumstances upon the film's release.
According to the petition, the film's trailer, launched on October 16, includes a scene showing the deity Lord Shiva emerging from the dome of the Taj Mahal.
The petitioner argues that this misleadingly suggests the monument was originally a temple, which constitutes a tampering with historical facts. The film stars actor Paresh Rawal in the lead role.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
