The apex court had, on January 18, paved way for the nationwide release of the movie on January 25 by lifting the ban put by states like Gujarat and Rajasthan on its screening.
It had also restrained other states from issuing orders banning the Deepika Padukone-starrer, based on the saga of a historic 13th century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the movie producer Viacom 18, opposed urgent hearing on the pleas saying it was "unfortunate" the way things were happening despite the apex court order.
Meanwhile, two bodies which have been protesting against the film -- Shree Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena and Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha, also moved the apex court seeking their impleadment as parties, opposing its release on grounds including that it hurt the sentiments of the community.
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Rajasthan, in its application, has referred to several recent incidents of violence that has taken place in there and sought modification of the order to the extent that the movie is not allowed to be released in the state.
Referring to a local law that empowered Rajasthan to stall the exhibition of a movie, it said, "the administrative machinery of the state is the best judge of the conditions prevailing in the state and the state administration is best equipped to have inputs of any likelihood of breach of peace and disturbance in law and order."
"People, worship Rani Padmavati, not simply as a historical character but she has been given a status of 'goddess' who defended her honour against a Muslim invader," Rajasthan said in its plea.
"The present application is moved by Rajasthan to bring to the notice of this court the circumstances and the actual ground realities which have been supported by intelligence reports stating that in case the film 'Padmaavat' earlier named as 'Padmavati' is publicly exhibited in Cinema Halls in Rajasthan, it will causes disturbance of law and order in many areas which the CBFC could not have considered...," it said.
"If the film is released in the state, there is every likelihood of strong opposition from Rajput Community and supporters of Shree Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena and apart from creating law and order problems, they can also indulge in damaging cinema halls, rioting and traffic jam," it said.
Earlier, the apex court had not only set aside the ban put by certain states on the release of the movie, but had also asked other states not to take similar recourse.
Maintaining that states were under constitutional obligation to maintain law and order, the to court had said this duty also included providing police protection to persons involved in the film, its exhibition and the audience.
The top court had passed the interim order on the petition by Viacom 18 Media Pvt Ltd and other producers of the movie challenging bar on screening of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali- directed movie by Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.
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