Court emphasises freedom of expression cannot breach peace, morality, and religious sentiments; experts welcome the action protecting Muslims from harmful stereotyping
NEW DELHI – The Delhi High Court has taken a firm stand against the release of the film Masoom Katil, which it ruled promotes violence and hatred against the Muslim community. The court observation this week highlighted the responsibility of filmmakers to avoid content that spreads fear, division, and hostility.
In a strict observation, Justice Manish Pritam Singh Arora stated, “Freedom of expression also has a limit. It goes along with respecting the peace, morality and religious sentiments of the society.” The bench emphasised that films glorifying murder, cannibalism, and anti-social behaviour can wrongly influence audiences and normalise violence.
The film, produced by Shyam Bhartiya under Sanvika Productions and edited by Akash Gupta, faced backlash after its trailer surfaced on social media in August 2022. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) initially banned the movie, citing excessive violence, bloodshed, and content that could harm public morality. The producer challenged the decision, seeking an ‘A’ certificate, but the high court upheld the ban.
“Violence was presented in a glamorous manner,” the court observed. The judgement pointed out that the film not only portrayed cruelty to humans and animals but also insulted various religions, castes, and communities, risking increased hatred and animosity in society. Children depicted committing crimes and engaging in anti-social acts were highlighted as particularly concerning, as they could negatively influence young viewers.
The film’s controversial content includes scenes where members of the Muslim community are shown being tortured for consuming meat, alongside depictions of murder, cruelty, and dialogues offending religious sentiments. The plot reportedly uses the Garuda Purana as a narrative device to justify violent acts by a girl against those who eat meat.
Experts and media observers welcomed the high court’s decision. Senior journalist Nitesh Dubey from Zee Media said, “Films are said to be the mirror of society, so should the society have such a blurred mentality? Does only a particular community in India consume meat and fish? This film not only reflects the hate-mongering mentality, but the level of acting and direction seems vulgar. The agenda behind making it is clearly visible, and the court’s decision is correct in every respect.”
The ruling reiterates that while freedom of expression is a constitutional right, it cannot be used to incite violence, ridicule communities, or threaten the harmony of Indian society. The Delhi High Court’s firm stance sends a clear message to filmmakers: creativity should never come at the cost of social peace or the dignity of religious communities.
