‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ row: What happened in Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the makers of the Netflix film “Ghooskhor Pandat” to change the title of the film as it is denigrative of a particular community. A bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna warned the respondent filmmakers that the Court cannot permit any section of society to be denigrated by the title of this film and other offensive material in the film (if any).“Why should you denigrate anybody. It’s against morality and public order. Being woke is one thing. But creating this kind of unrest when there is already unrest in the country. We thought filmmakers, journalists, etc., are all responsible people and are aware of exceptions and reasonable restrictions of Article 19 (1) (a) (Fundamental Right of Speech and Expression). You tell us what names you are suggesting for the title change.""Issue notice to the respondents. No section of society should be denigrated. For as long as the late 40s, the framers of the Constitution were aware of the multitude of races, castes, etc. So they introduced concept or fraternity. If you use your freedom to denigrate any section of society, we can’t permit it”, Justice Nagarathna verbally remarked.The Court was hearing a PIL seeking a stay on the release and screening of the upcoming film “Ghooskhor Pandat”, alleging that the movie promotes caste- and religion-based stereotyping and hurts the dignity and religious sentiments of the Brahmin community. The Court has listed the matter to be heard next on February 19. The respondents filmmaker’s are directed to file an affidavit containing a new title and other changes in the film, in compliance with the Court’s order today.The hearing comes amid a separate criminal case registered in Lucknow against the director and members of his team, earlier this month.According to police officials, complaints alleged that the film’s title and content target a particular caste, offending religious and caste-based sentiments and promoting animosity.In an official statement, the Lucknow police commissionerate said strict action is being ensured against any content that hurts religious or caste sentiments or disrupts communal harmony. The statement noted that the title of the film appears to have been deliberately chosen to insult a particular caste, which has the potential to disturb public peace and social concord.Police said preliminary scrutiny suggests the director and his team may have published the content with the intention of spreading discord, disturbing law and order, and undermining social harmony. “Any attempt to incite hostility or hurt the sentiments of any community will not be tolerated. Strict legal action will be taken against those found guilty,” said DCP Central Zone, Vikrant Vir.The FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to promoting enmity between different groups and acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.