SC refuses urgent hearing on 'Ram ki Janmbhoomi'

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to grant an urgent hearing on a plea to stay the release of the film 'Ram ki Janmbhoomi' on grounds that it would affect the court-directed mediation process in Ayodhya dispute.

"No film can come in way of mediation if the parties are willing to. We are not so pessimistic about it," a bench of Justices S A Bobde and S Abdul Nazeer said.

The court said the petition filed by Prince Tucy for suspending the scheduled release of the movies on Friday.

The court told the petitioner's counsel Lily Thomas, that the matter can be heard after two weeks.

The film directed by Saroj Mishra and produced by UP Shia Waqf Board chairman Wasim Rizvi reportedly deals with controversial issues of Ram temple and Nikah Halala.

The petitioner apprehended that the movie would vitiate the atmosphere as the top court had on March 8 ordered mediation to resolve the over 70-year-old vexed Ayodhya dispute related to Ram temple and Babri Masjid.

The court had nominated former top court judge, Justice F M I Kalfulla, Art of Living's Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and senior advocate Sriram Panchu to hold talks with the parties representing Hindu and Muslim sides.