New Delhi: The Supreme Court today stayed the ban on Bollywood period drama, ‘Padmaavat,’ in six States.  It will be screened across India on Jan. 25.  The Apex Court said that States must ensure law and order is maintained and they cannot ban the film citing it as a problem. All States are Constitutionally obliged to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident during the screening of the film, the Bench hearing the matter observed.

“If we go by this (arguments levelled against films), 60 per cent of literature, even classical literature of India cannot be read,” Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra said. Governments of Haryana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand had banned the film’s screening.