The Kerala High Court expressed strong disapproval of comments made by petitioners regarding a Division Bench that had lifted the stay on the film ‘Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond’. Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar VM of the Bench took offense at certain statements in a fresh Public Interest Litigation challenging the movie’s release. The petition raised concerns about the manner in which another Division Bench had allowed the film’s release.
During the hearing, the Bench highlighted that the petition contained criticisms questioning the actions of a previous Division Bench. Chief Justice Sen questioned the petitioners for casting aspersions on another bench, emphasizing the irrelevance of such statements in the case. The court session involved a PIL filed by K.C.Chandramohanan, a retired social science teacher, and advocate Mehnaz P. Mohammed, challenging the film’s portrayal of Kerala.
The petition alleged that the film defamed Kerala by depicting it as a hub of terrorism and radicalization without substantial evidence. It claimed that the movie portrayed over 150 Muslim characters in an Islamophobic manner, neglecting the representation of peaceful community members. The petitioners also argued that using the title ‘Kerala Story’ for a fictional narrative violated constitutional principles and damaged Kerala’s reputation.
The High Court had initially halted the film’s release on February 26 following a PIL against it. However, a Division Bench, after hearing an appeal from the filmmakers, lifted the stay on February 27, allowing the film to be screened. The final decision on the appeal is pending, with the fresh petition questioning the urgency of the appeal hearing. The Chief Justice cautioned against making unfounded remarks about the judiciary, emphasizing the need for respectful conduct towards judges.
After the court’s objections, the petitioners’ counsel apologized unconditionally and agreed to remove the contentious portions. The Bench permitted the withdrawal of the plea and advised the filing of a revised petition without the disputed content.
