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The ban imposed by All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) on all Pakistani actors and artists in the Indian film industry following the Pulwama Attack in 2016 was also cited before court
Supreme Court has rejected a petition seeking a complete ban on Indian citizens and entities from engaging in any form of association with Pakistani artists, including cinema workers, singers, musicians, lyricists, and technicians.
A division bench asked the petitioner not to press on prayers while telling him to not be so narrow minded.
The instant plea was filed challenging the Bombay High Court's decision from last month wherein a division bench presided over by Justice Sunil B. Shukre and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla had rejected the instant plea.
Today, a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti referred to the dismissal and the High Court's observations against the petitioner, as a good lesson for him.
High Court had further observed that the participation of the Pakistan Cricket Team in the world cup was made possible due to the positive measures undertaken by the Government of India.
“It may be added here that in the World Cricket Cup being held in India, Cricket team from Pakistan is taking part and this has happened only because of appreciable positive steps taken by the Government of India in the interest of overall peace and harmony in consonance with Article 51 of the Constitution of India which is about promotion of international peace and security. If such a petition is to be entertained by this Court, it would set as at naught the positive initiatives taken by the Government of India in the interest of international peace and harmony,” the impugned order read.
Instant petition was filed by one Faaiz Anwar Qureshi, who claimed to be a cinema worker, artist, lyricist, and film producer.
Qureshi sought directions to be issued to the Union of India to take strict penal action on non-compliance of the ban along with the cooperation of the Police.
Qureshi had also argued that failure to impose the ban could result in discrimination against Indian artists. He pointed out that a similar favourable environment for working in the Indian film industry, which is made available to Pakistani artists, is not reciprocated for Indian artists working in Pakistan.
He further added that the Pakistan Cricket Team's visit to India might create opportunities for individuals to misuse the sports event by inviting artists from Pakistan. This, in turn, could pose a threat to the opportunities of Indian artists.
Case Title: Faaiz Anwar Qureshi vs. UOI & Ors.
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