'We Said We Aren't Giving Urgent Hearing' : Supreme Court On Plea Against 'Udaipur Files' Movie

The Supreme Court on Thursday said that it did not pass any order in respect of the film "Udaipur Files" and that it only refused urgent listing when the matter was mentioned yesterday.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Jamiat Ulema I Hind, orally mentioned the matter today at 1 PM before a bench comprising Justice Sudhashu Dhulia and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, saying that because of the reports regarding the Court's refusal to urgently list the matter, the Delhi High Court was showing reluctance to pass orders in the Jamiat's petition against the film's release.

"I filed the petition before Delhi High Court. The HC Chief Justice asked me if there is a matter pending here. That is not even been heard or listed. Oral observation made by your lordship," Sibal submitted.

"We said we are not giving urgent hearing," Justice Dhulia said. When Sibal sought a clarification by mentioning again at 2 PM, Justice Dhulia said, "We did not pass any order. We said no urgent listing. That's all."

The petition in the Supreme Court was filed by one Mohammed Javed, an accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, seeking to stay the release of the film, contending that it would violate his right to fair trial. Yesterday, the Court refused to grant urgent listig for the film ahead of its scheduled date of release (July 11) and asked the lawyer to mention the matter next week on the Court's re-opening.

The Delhi High Court is hearing another petition filed by the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind to stop the film's release on the ground that it was communallly provocative.