High Court division bench gives permission to release ‘Kerala Story 2’

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has given permission to release the controversial film ‘Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond’. The release of the film was stayed by the high court’s single bench. The division bench, which considered the appeal filed by the producers against this, heard the arguments late last night. Following this, the division bench has now issued an order granting permission for the release. The single bench order stopping the release was stayed.

The division bench had earlier observed that the pleas opposing the certification of the film were in the nature of public interest litigation and how could a single bench hear them. The division bench stayed the proceedings of the single bench citing such technical issues. The pleas were heard by a division bench comprising Justice Sushrut A Dharmadhikari and Justice P V Balakrishnan.

The single bench stayed the release of the film, stating that the content in the film's teaser was prima facie disruptive to public order and communal harmony. Although the court expressed willingness to watch the film, the producers did not take a favorable stand. The producers argued in the appeal that the film does not portray any religion or Kerala in a bad light. They had also stated that the title 'Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond' was chosen because the characters are from other states.