The Supreme Court on Monday (April 16) declined to stay the release of the film Nanak Shah Fakir, based on the life of Guru Nanak Dev.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud contented that since the film was not historically wrong there was no need to block the release of the film. And the film seeks glorification of Guru Nanak.

The bench said: “There are certain matters in the constitution which are beyond the religion. There is no guru in real life or in fiction.”

The bench was acting on plea of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) which argued that there could not be any depiction of Sikh Gurus, their family members and the Panj Payaras by any mortal beings.

During the course of proceedings, Senior Counsel P S Patwalia appearing for SGPC said: “It’s not the abstract faith; it’s the other things as well. Every religion has its own beliefs with no interference of the law. No legal relief can ever be achieved in the religion related matters.”

The next hearing of the matter is on May 8.

—India Legal Bureau