HC declines to stay MSG

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today declined to stay the release of controversial film 'Messenger of God (MSG)', featuring Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
As the petition filed in public interest by a Mohali-based trust against the film's release came up for hearing, a division bench of the High Court comprising Justices S K Mittal and Deepak Sibal issued notices of motion to the Union of India, Haryana government, Chandigarh administration, Film Censor Board, Film Certification Appellant Tribunal (FCAT), Dera Sacha Sauda and its head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and posted the matter for March 3.

The orders on the film came less than ten days before the scheduled nation-wide release of the film.
The orders were issued nearly 20 days after Mumbai-based Film Certification Appellate Tribunal set aside the ban imposed by the Central Board of Film Certification on public exhibition of 'Messenger of God'.
Raising objections to its release, Mohali-based Kalgidhar Sevak Jatha had moved the High Court.
In its petition filed in public interest, the organization had sought ban on screening 'Messenger of God' in Punjab and Haryana.
It claimed the movie's exhibition would pose a serious threat to the law and order situation in the two states.

The petitioner claimed that the protagonist of the film Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had tried to project himself as messenger of God in the movie though he was an accused in cases being investigated by the CBI.