Why waste our time: Supreme Court refuses to pause Udaipur Files release

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to extend its earlier stay on the release of the film Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder and directed those objecting to it to approach the Delhi High Court to challenge the Centre's revisional order, which had allowed the movie to be screened with six edits.

"First go to High Court and pursue and then come here. Now other side says he [movie producer] is satisfied with central government order and he does not want to pursue the case here. So you go to High Court now. Why waste our time," the Court remarked.

Initially scheduled for release on July 11, 2025, 'Udaipur Files' faced many delays due to censorship and legal troubles.

The movie is based on Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor from Udaipur who was murdered by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous for allegedly sharing a post supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's controversial on-air remarks on Prophet Muhammad in 2022.

A division bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi asked the counsel representing those opposing the movie's release — Kapil Sibal, appearing for Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, and Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for one of the accused in the murder case — to approach the Delhi High Court if they sought relief from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry's order.

The committee, which reviewed the movie and suggested minor edits and changes to it, was set up by the Information Ministry after an order of the Delhi High Court.

"We had moved a writ petition...we thought that matter would also come before you...Since it has not come we seek permission to withdraw and go before the High Court," Sibal told the top court.

The bench refused to intervene in the movie's release even after the counsel for the petitioners argued, "Please issue a stay on the release until the High Court takes up the matter?"

"Whatever arguments you have to make, go to High Court,” the top court said.

On the other hand, counsel representing the filmmakers said that the "social fabric of the country was not harmed even after Kashmir Files or Kerala Story or even Pahalgam or 26/11 attacks," adding, "They are making a mountain out of a molehill."

"Do they have any evidence that any social fabric was affected, or any incident happened after Kerala Story or Kashmir Files?," he asked.

In response, Sibal pointed out that all the films mentioned by the filmmakers are a different case all together "for the simple reason that this movie has been seen while others were not seen."

"Therefore I am challenging the content which could not be done in those cases," Sibal mentioned.

The Supreme Court, however, declined to go into the merits of the objections, also refusing to address the argument made by the filmmaker about the "effect" of the film.

"These arguments are provoking dialogue.. we have no doubt that in appropriate proceedings these questions may need to be answered. But that's not here.." observed the bench.

- Ends