The Hindu : Kerala News : Ban on staging of play upheld

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 06, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Ban on staging of play upheld

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, APRIL 5. A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court comprising Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and Pius C. Kuriakose has dismissed a writ petition filed by Fr. Abraham Vellamthadathil of Kottayam challenging the Kottayam District Collector's order issued in 1990 proscribing the staging of the drama, `Jesus Christ, Super Star".

The court dismissed the petition on the ground that earlier, another division bench had dismissed an appeal filed under the provisions of the Kerala Dramatic Performance Act against the Collector's order. The Division Bench had in 1991 observed that a perusal of the script would show that the entire script was against the fundamental belief of the Christian faith and the presentation of Jesus Christ in the play was "both sacrilegious and blasphemous, which would outrage the religious feeling of Christians". However, on a petition before the Supreme Court by Mary Roy of Corpus Christi School, Kottayam, the Apex court had allowed the staging of the play exclusively for the children, parents and teachers of the school. In the meantime, she had withdrawn the petition. According to the present petition, the Rock Opera, "Jesus Christ, Super Star", written by Andrews Lloyd Webber and Jim Rice was a literary piece staged and enjoyed by Christians everywhere including in the Vatican.

Dismissing the petition, the court observed that the fundamental right of the petitioner was in not any way affected by the order of the District Collector.

Court grants bail

Justice G. Sasidharan today granted bail to four persons arrested in connection with the murder of Sudheesh (29) of Elammakkara, who was running a chicken centre in SRM Road, Ernakulam,

Those who were granted bail were Shiju of Vezhapilly, SRM Road, Mubarak of Sastha Temple Road, Kaloor; Shamier of Manappatiparamba Colony, Kaloor, and Aziz, who was running the chicken centre in SRM Road. There were altogeher six accused in the case.

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