Shikara: PIL seeking stay on release to be heard on February 7 by J&K HC

Jammu and Kashmir High Court will hear on Friday public interest litigation seeking a stay on release of Hindi movie 'Shikara' which is based on exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Valley in 1990.

petition, filed by three social activists, is seeking a stay on release of movie on grounds that besides t being based on facts, it was also "communal" in nature. "In view of averments made in petition and relief claimed, we feel that re is a real urgency involved in matter and that response of official respondents should be obtained in context of interim relief prayed for by petitioners," a division bench of Justices A M Magray and D S Thakur said in order while issuing tices to Centre and Union Territory administration.

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bench proposed to post matter for Friday in morning session for having responsibility of respondents, especially official ones.

court also directed advocate general of Jammu and Kashmir UT to appear on Friday in connection with PIL. "tice is also directed to be issued to learned Advocate General for appearance before court tomorrow. List tomorrow (Friday), 07.02.2020 in morning session,"  court said.

petition was filed in High Court earlier this week. activists have sought a review and editing of "objectionable" scenes and narrations of movie which, y claim, blames entire Kashmiri population for exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Valley in 1990.

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petitioners have maintained that trailers of movie that are being shown on television indicate that movie has potential of communal polarization.

petition seeks directions to respondents including producer and director of movie Vidhu Vid Chopra to withhold release of movie on February 7 till it is reviewed, scrutinized and censored by appropriate authorities.

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