Breaking: Supreme Court Refuses To Extend Stay On Release Of Movie 'Udaipur Files', Orders Delhi High Court To Hear Cases On Monday

A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that it will pass an order requesting the High Court to consider the challenge to the order of the revisional authority, the Central Government, on Monday itself. The Court recorded that the Producer's petition is withdrawn. The Court also recorded that the accused has also approached the High Court, and hence his petition before the Apex Court is closed with liberty to pursue the petition before the High Court.

The Court clarified that it has not expressed anything on the merits and that the High Court is free to pass appropriate orders.

When the case was taken up, the Court asked the Petitioners before the High Court whether they had challenged the revision authority's order. When the answer was in the affirmative, the Court asked the Petitioners to pursue the same before the High Court.

Justice Surya Kant said, "Please dont waste time here. Go to the High Court."

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared on behalf of the Petitioners before the High Court, submitted that the movie should not be released till the High Court considers their petition.

The Court said that it will not call for the proceedings before the High Court to the Supreme Court. "Meanwhile, nothing", Justice Kant said, refusing to pass any order pending the decision of the High Court.

Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, appearing for the Producers of the movie, submitted that the Petitioners before the High Court can't seek an interim order from the Supreme Court when the Producers want to withdraw their petition. He cited the order of the Apex Court in the matter of the movie "The Kerala Story". "I have lost twelve days already", he submitted.

"But on the lighter side, don't think you were in losses in the 12 days", Justice Surya Kant said that the movie has received publicity in the meantime due to the litigation.

A Counsel for an intervenor submitted that the Petitioner's concern is a figment of his imagination and that there was no consequence after the release of the movies "The Kashmir Files" or "The Kerala Story". He said that the "hyper sensitivity syndrome" should be put a check on.

"They want to act as a super censor", submitted Bhatia, referring to the Petitioner before the High Court. He submitted that any order that will be passed will cause further damage to the Producers.

Sibal submitted that the judgments relied upon by the Producers are different because in the present case, the movie has been seen by the Petitioner, and hence, he is challenging the content of the movie. He also referred to the Judgment of the Apex Court in Amish Devgan's case on hate speech.

We will apply the Wednesbury principle when an expert body has taken a decision, Justice Joymalya Bagchi said.

Sibal urged that his challenge may be considered on Monday, and till then, the movie should not be released.

The Court then said that it will request the High Court to consider the case on Monday itself. The Court recorded that the Producer's petition is withdrawn. The Court also recorded that the accused has also approached the High Court and hence his petition before the Apex Court is closed with liberty to pursue the petition before the High Court.

Background

Yesterday, the Court adjourned the matter, with Justice Surya Kant observing that the matter may be remitted to the Delhi High Court for interim relief. During the hearing, Justice Surya Kant remarked, “It is the right of the society to watch or not watch a movie”, adding, “Judicial officer is duty bound and he or she has to decide the case strictly on the basis of the evidence on record.” On public perception, he said, “The judiciary should remain unaffected by all this nonsense... Most of us don't read newspapers in the morning. We don't care about it.”

On July 21, 2025, the Court had adjourned the pleas connected to the film 'Udaipur Files' after the Central Government informed that it has passed an order requiring six changes to the movie.

The Court on July 16, 2025, deferred hearing on a plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s interim stay on the release of the film, in view of a scheduled certification review before the Central Government that afternoon. The Bench directed that all parties be allowed to present their contentions before the Centre, stating, “We can wait for a day or two since the government is taking it up… raise all contentions there.”

Earlier, the producers had sought urgent listing of their plea, saying that the film's release was stayed by the High Court despite the Censor Board certification.

On July 10, the Delhi High Court stayed the release of 'Udaipur Files' till the Centre decides on pleas seeking a permanent ban on the film over its potential to "promote disharmony" in society.

Cause Title: Mohammad Javed v. Union of India & Ors., W.P.(C) No. 647/2025