Delhi HC rejects 'hopeless' plea to appoint historians to review Padmavati

The protests over Padmavati might be going overboard, with a recent death of a 40 year man at the Nahargarh fort also being associated with the film. However, the courts seem to be siding with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his artistes. The Delhi High Court has now rejected a plea requesting the appointment of a special panel to review Bhansali's film for 'distortion of history'. The court dismissed the plea saying it was 'hopeless'. 

The dismissal arrives on the same day as another fringe group, Rashtriya Chetna Manch, staged a protest and burned Bhansali's effigies near the Azadpur Metro station in New Delhi. 

In its dismissal, the court also pulled up the protestors and the petitioner. The bench slammed the petitioner saying such pleas only encourage violent protests. 

According to news agency PTI, the bench, comprising of acting chief justice and justice C Harishankar, observed, "Have you (counsel for the petitioner) seen the film? Have the people, who are burning cinema halls seen the film? By this kind of petitions you are encouraging the people who are agitating." 

The PIL (Public Interest Litigation) was filed by the Akhand Rashtrawadi Party on 16 November to direct the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to create a special panel of historians to verify any distortions in the film. 

Earlier this week, Supreme Court had dismissed another plea seeking a stay on the release of the film. Chief justice Dipak Misra, justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, refused to declare a stay saying it was the purview of the CBFC to make that decision. 

Padmavati has been mired in controversy over its alleged treatment of the story of the mythical Rajput queen, Rani Padmini. 

The film was initially scheduled to be released on 1 December, but has now been indefinitely deferred. It will, however, release on the same date in theatres across United Kingdom.