The Delhi High Court has allowedthe release of Bollywood movie’Heroine’ without display of “static”anti-smoking message in its smokingscenes.Justice Rajiv Shakdher allowed therelease of Kareena Kapoor-starermovie, saying “it is not appropriate forthe government to disturb the state ofaffairs in interregnum.“The film is set to be released onSeptember 21.Allowing film maker UTVSoftware Communication’s plea forpermission to release the film withoutthe anti-smoking message duringsmoking scenes, the court asked theCentral Board of Film Certification(CBFC) to issue certificate withoutthis condition.
“It is prima facie not appropriatefor respondent nos.1 and 2 (ministries of the I&Band the Health) to disturb thestate of affairs in interregnum.This is specially so, as themeasures put in place onNovember 29, 2011 appear tohave worked well betweenDecember 2011 and March 2012,”Justice Shakdher said.
“The balance of conveniencealso appears to be in favour ofwrit petitioner UTV in view of thefact that it has invested a hugesum of money based on what wasperhaps according to it, was thestate of the legal regime, in which,it was required to operate,” headded.
