The Supreme Court today pulled up the Centre on the Padmavati row. While dismissing a PIL by a lawyer, Manohar Lal Sharma, that sought a stay on the film, the court questioned the Centre as to how people in 'responsible positions holding public offices' could 'make statements on a movie that has not been cleared by the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification)'.

The Supreme Court's comment seems to be directed at the chief ministers of various states who have voiced their disapproval for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati.

"All concerned people, holding responsible posts must be guided by rule of law and shouldn't venture into passing comments on films which haven't been cleared by CBFC. It'll prejudice minds of board members while taking a decision," the Supreme Court bench said on Padmavati.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said last week that the film will not be allowed to release in his state even if the censor board cleared it. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that if action is taken against people who are offering bounties on the heads of Bhansali, action should be taken against the filmmaker too for hurting sentiments.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani echoed his Madhya Pradesh counterpart by saying that the state government will not allow Padmavati to release in the state.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, welcomed the film with open arms. Speaking at the India Today Conclave East 2017 in Kolkata, Banerjee said, "If they cannot release it in any other state, we will give special arrangement for Padmavati. Bengal will be very happy and Bengal will be proud to do that."

The Supreme Court went on to add, "Discussion within the citizenry is a different thing, but how can people in responsible positions issue such statements? The Supreme Court directs Centre to ensure that people in public offices and holding powerful positions shouldn't comment on a movie which hasn't been cleared by CBFC."

Slamming the Centre, the court also said that such statements (the kind that have been issued on Padmavati) create an atmosphere of prejudice against the movie."

The protests against Padmavati have now dipped, after the Shri Rajput Karni Sena tried to work out a truce with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. There have been unprecedented and country-wide protests against the film. From attacks on Bhansali to rewards being announced on beheading the director and lead actor Deepika Padukone, Padmavati has been in the middle of a veritable storm since the beginning of this year.

The film was initially scheduled to release on December 1, but has now been pushed indefinitely. It is yet to receive a clearance from the censor board. Padmavati stars Deepika Padukone in the eponymous role as the Rajput queen of Chittor, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Turkish emperor Alauddin Khilji.

STATES ON THE PADMAVATI ROW

The Gujarat government has said that Padmavati will not be screened in the state till the Assembly elections. Gujarat goes to poll on December 9 and 14, and the counting is to take place on December 18.

In a press conference on November 22, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that apart from the Kshatriya Samaaj, other communities also expressed apprehension about the release of the film.

"Till the issues are resolved, Padmavati will not be screened in Gujarat," said Rupani.

"Such issues spoil the environment. The threat of violence can spoil the environment during elections. Keeping law and order issues in mind, Padmavati will not be released in Gujarat. The Home department has initiated the process to look into the matter," said Rupani.

He also tweeted, "The Government of Gujarat will not allow #Padmavati - a movie hurting sentiments of Rajputs - to get released in the State. We can't allow our history to be distorted. We believe in freedom of speech & expression but any foul play with our great culture is not tolerated. (sic)"

The Government of Gujarat will not allow #Padmavati - a movie hurting sentiments of Rajputs - to get released in the State. We cant allow our history to be distorted. We believe in freedom of speech & expression but any foul play with our great culture is not tolerated. - Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) November 22, 2017

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial period drama, Padmavati, has been in dire straits for a while now. Several right-wing groups have been vehemently opposing the film on the grounds that it supposedly degrades the honour of the Rajput queen, Rani Padmini.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that he would take a decision on whether Padmavati will be released in the state only after the film is cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

"We will not allow anyone's sentiments to be hurt. We don't think it is right to ban (a film) before censor board's decision," he told ANI.

Incidentally, the CBFC delayed the certification of Padmavati after the makers failed to submit all the documents required. The release of the film has now been pushed indefinitely.

"This might be his personal opinion; the government has nothing to do with it. We have issued him a show cause notice," Manohar Lal Khattar said, when prodded about Haryana BJP's (Bharatiya Janta Party) chief media coordinator Suraj Pal Singh Amu, who was booked by the Gurgaon Police on Tuesday.

Suraj Pal Amu was vocal in his support of the bounty of Rs 5 crore announced by the Meerut Kshatriya Samaj on the heads of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Deepika Padukone. When a complaint was lodged against him, he declared that his voice will not be subdued and threatened to "set fire to each screen in the country".

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh maintained a somewhat neutral stand on Padmavati. While he was strictly opposed to violence and threats issued by some agitated protesters, he told IANS that anyone whose sentiments were hurt by the distortion of historical facts had the right to protest. He emphasised that protests and threats were not the same thing.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan voiced his support for the protestors and said that Padmavati will not be allowed to release in the state even if it is cleared by the censor board.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that if action is being taken against the people issuing threats against Sanjay Leela Bhansali, action should be taken against the director as well for hurting sentiments.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, took the opposite route and said that she condemned this 'attack on freedom' and that it was 'super emergency'.

Padmavati stars Deepika Padukone in the titular role, Shahid Kapoor as her husband, Maharawal Ratan Singh, and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji.