The Supreme Court judges D. Y. Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta levied a fine of Rs. 20 lakh on the West Bengal Government for blocking the release of the Anik Dutta’s political satire film “Bhobishyoter Bhoot”. This film was initially released in February but was immediately taken down just a day after its release.
It is a full on political satire that attacks the follies made by parties in India without naming it. It was not seen as an art nor was the freedom of speech and expression of the creator and artists valued by the dominating authorities who asked the theatre owners to take away the film. The film was even approved by the censor board.
The apex court said ” Contemporary events reveal that there is a growing intolerance: intolerance which is unaccepting of the rights of others in society to freely espouse their views and to portray them in print, in the theatre or in the celluloid media. Organized groups and interests pose a serious danger to the existence of the right to free speech and expression… Public power is assigned by the people to government. Ours is a controlled Constitution, a Constitution which recognizes the fullest element of liberty and freedom and of the answerability of power to freedom…The Constitution does not permit those in authority who disagree to crush the freedom of others to believe, think and express.”