AP Highcourt criticizes govt.’s move to ban Da Vinci Code

Andhra Pradesh high court criticized the move of AP govt. to ban Da Vinci Code  in the state.The High Court has held that the order is arbitrary and against Article 19(1)(a), Article 19 (2) and Article 14 of the Constitution of India. ‘The authority banning the film, the Andhra Pradesh Special Chief Secretary, had not even seen the film and mechanically approved the ‘hecklers veto’,’ declared the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

 The Andhra Pradesh High Court has said:Those who are offended by the content or its theme are free to avoid watching the film. The objectors are thus not captive audience of the film. Dissenters of speech and expression have no constitutional right in respect of the intellectual, moral, religious, dogmatic (beliefs) or of the choices of mankind. The Constitution of India does not confer or tolerate such individualized, hyper-sensitive private censorial intrusion into and regulation of the guaranteed freedom of others. The right to communicate ideas, facts, knowledge, information, belief, theories, creative and extreme impulse by speech, a written drama, word theatre, dance, music is an essential component of the protected rights and may be exercised untrammeled, uninterrupted and unrestricted. The same cannot be taken away by unreasonable Government restraint.’

Courtesy:www.newstodaynet.com