Now Punjab and Haryana High Court takes up petition to block Udta Punjab

CHANDIGARH: In another bid to block screening of Udta Punjab, the film on drug problem in Punjab, a Jalandhar based lawyer has approached the vacation judge of Punjab and Haryana Court with the plea to restrain public exhinition of film which portraits Punjab culture in bad shape.
Bombay High Court had only yesterday cleared the film with one cut and ordered the Central Board of Film Certification(CBFC) to issue the fresh certificate to movie within 48 hours. Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice M Jeyapaul has entertained the petition and ordered a special screening of the film today. A Mumbai based advocate Sujay Kantawala who happened to be in Punjab and Haryana High Court in connection with another case was appointed amicus curiae (friend of the court) and watch the movie. Yhe High Court has asked the Mumbai advocate to present his report in the court on June 16, a day before the release of the movie. The court has issued notice to CBFC to hold special screening of the film. The film Udta Punjab had faced many hurdles first from the CBFC which issued A certificate with 89 cuts and suggestion to remove name Punjab word from the title. The ruling Shiromani Akali (SAD) in Punjab was blamed for using its good offices with BJP at center to block the release of movie. The whole bollywood came in support of film and issue was snowballed into national debate. The SAD had initially opposed the release of movie on the ground that it was an attempt to defame Punjab. However taking a tactical stand, the SAD later said Punjab government would not ban the movie. It is not clear if the lawyer who filed the petition in the court has any links with SAD.