Screening of film ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’ to continue, says Supreme Court

New Delhi, April 16

The Supreme Court on Monday made clear that its interim order permitting the release of regional film ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’, based on the life of the first guru of the Sikhs, shall remain operational.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it would hear on May 8 the submission and the counter on behalf of the film producer and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex Sikh religious body, on the same.

The movie has already been released in the country, except in Punjab, senior advocate RS Suri, appearing for the producer, told the bench which also comprised Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud.

The bench said the fundamental issue was to see whether the life of Guru Nanak had been portrayed in the right manner or not.

Senior advocate PS Patwalia, appearing for the SGPC, referred to the 2003 notification of the apex Sikh body that had categorically stated that no person could be allowed to portray the life of 10 Sikh gurus, their family members and the ‘Panj Pyaras’.

The top court had on April 10 criticised the SGPC for imposing restrictions on the film and had cleared the decks for its nationwide release scheduled for April 13. PTI