Tribal activist moves Jharkhand HC to ban MSG-2

Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court today ordered that notices be served to the Censor Board and others on a petition seeking immediate ban on the film 'MSG 2: The Messenger' claiming its dialogues hurt the feelings of tribal communities.

After hearing the petitioner, tribal activist Raimul Bandra, a division bench of Chief Justice Virendra Singh and Justice P P Bhatt gave direction to serve notices to the Central Board of Film Certification, the Centre, the production house, the Director of Tribal Research and other parties.

The court will hear the case on September 21. Additional Solicitor General Rajiv Sinha, who appeared on behalf of the union government, submitted that the film was passed by the CBFC and that it was cleared after it found no objectionable material in the film. Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Khusboo Kataruka Modi, however, told the court that as per the clippings of the film, there were several dialogues that hurt the sentiments of the tribals and Jharkhand is a state where majority of them reside.

He also contended that tribals have their own traditions and culture and that every community has a right to protect them as enshrined in the Constitution.

As the film "hurt" the feelings of tribals and Jharkhand people, it should be banned immediately, he submitted. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, head of socio-spiritual organisation Dera Sacha Sauda, wrote, directed, and acted in the film 'MSG 2: The Messenger'.