Madras HC strikes down ban on Code

The Madras High Court on Friday quashed the Karunanidhi government’s May 31 order banning the The Da Vinci Code, ruling that the ban on the film’s exhibition violated freedom of expression. Justice Prabha Sridevan struck down the government order, based on a writ petition filed by Sony Pictures Releasing India Ltd, and Anuroshi Pictures, Chennai.

This is the second judgment quashing the suspension of the film’s screening, after the Andhra Pradesh High Court passed a similar verdict. Citing possibility of breach of peace if the film were screened, the DMK government invoked powers under Section 13 of the Cinematograph Act to suspend screening for two months.

In a strong observation, the judge said it would be ‘‘dangerous to allow a state to straitjacket the right to freedom of expression, and artistic expression may be asphyxiated if a petulant group of self-appointed censors prescribe the paradigms for suspending exhibition of a film, which has the approval of the Central Board of Film Certification.’’