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SC tells Centre, Maharashtra to provide security for Fire petitioners

The Supreme Court today directed the central and Maharashtra governments to immediately provide security cover to the petitioners, including thespian Dilip Kumar, who have petitioned the court with regard to the controversial feature film Fire.

The order follows a mention made to the court with regard to the action by scantily-clad Shiv Sainiks outside the residence of Dilip Kumar in Bombay on Saturday.

Senior counsel Harish Salve told a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice A S Anand that other petitioners had also received similar threats.

Chief Justice Anand, Justices V N Khare and M B Shah said adequate security cover and protection should be ensured for all the petitioners to ensure that no harm came to them.

A petition by Dilip Kumar and others, including the film's director Deepa Mehta, seeking smooth screening of the film in the country, is coming up for hearing before the court tomorrow.

Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, who was also present, said he had no objection to the order.

The court had, on December 9, directed for hearing on December 15 the public interest petition seeking directions to the authorities concerned to ensure smooth screening of the film in the wake of violent demonstrations against it in Bombay and Delhi.

UNI

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