Delhi High Court refuses stay on release of Nanak Shah Fakir

The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to stay Friday's release of "Nanak Shah Fakir", a film based on Guru Nanak. The court, however, issued notice to the film producer, the Central Board of Film Certification and the Centre and listed the matter for May 22.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar said the release cannot be stopped after hearing a plea by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee that challenged a no-objection certificate by the censor board.

The petition claimed the movie had portrayed the family members of Guru Nanak through actors that it said was against the principles of Sikh religion.

Earlier, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a plea by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee on the matter but refused to grant any relief vis-a-vis blocking the release of "Nanak Shah Fakir".

The Supreme Court will take up the matter on Monday. The apex court pointed out that the CBFC had already cleared the film for release. It also said that outsiders cannot control the freedom of expression of an artiste.