The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an urgent petition filed by the Odisha government challenging the upcoming release of the animated feature ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana scheduled the matter for hearing on Tuesday after the state government mentioned the plea on Monday. State officials requested judicial intervention on the grounds that releasing the film could lead to potential law and order issues in Odisha.
Prior Judicial Clearance and Festival Timeline
The state’s challenge comes after a separate Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan, had previously allowed the nationwide release of the animated movie on or after July 28, following the conclusion of the Lord Jagannath Yatra festivities.
Although the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had granted official screening clearance for the movie, the Supreme Court will now examine the Odisha government’s security concerns before the scheduled theatrical release.
