Supreme Court Rejects Ban on Jagannath Animated Film, Upholds Artistic Freedom
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
The Supreme Court dismissed a plea to ban an animated film on Mahaprabhu Jagannath, emphasizing that artists must enjoy creative liberty. The court warned that preventing depictions of deities would halt many religious TV programs like Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Background
A plea was filed seeking a ban on the release of an animated film about Lord Jagannath, opposed by the Jagannath temple committee. The film had already been approved by the Censor Board.
Key facts
Supreme Court bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan rejected the plea to ban the animated film on Mahaprabhu Jagannath.
The court said artists must enjoy liberty of creative expression and courts should not interfere in art and creativity.
It noted that if depiction of gods and goddesses is prevented, movies on Ramayana and Mahabharata would not be made.
The court stressed that people ought to be tolerant of depiction of gods and goddesses.
The film had been passed by the Censor Board, so there was no reason for judicial interference.
The court stated that just because a few sensitive people object, an extreme order cannot be passed to stop all creativity regarding deities.
Animated films are for children, and artists cannot be taken to ransom by such objections.
The court refused to sit in judgement on matters of art and creativity.
Prelims pointers
- Supreme Court bench: Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan
- Censor Board (Central Board of Film Certification)
- Fundamental Right: Article 19(1)(a) - Freedom of speech and expression
- Article 19(2) - Reasonable restrictions
- Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha
Mains angles
- GS2: Judiciary - Role of Supreme Court in protecting fundamental rights
- GS2: Polity - Freedom of speech and expression vs. religious sentiments
- GS1: Indian Society - Tolerance and pluralism
- GS3: Media and Entertainment - Role of Censor Board and artistic freedom