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Kerala HC Lifts Ban on 'The Kerala Story 2'
28 Feb
Summary
- High Court stayed an interim order halting the film's release.
- Court cited landmark judgments on film certification and freedom of expression.
- Release of 'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond' is now permitted.
On February 27, 2026, a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court stayed a Single Judge's interim order that had halted the release of the film 'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond' for 15 days. The Single Judge had initially relied on teaser excerpts, suggesting potential disturbance to communal harmony and inadequate CBFC review.
However, the appellate Bench stressed that courts should generally presume proper application of mind by the CBFC, a statutory expert body. This decision drew upon Supreme Court precedents, including the 2011 'Aarakshan' case and the 2018 'Padmaavat' case. These rulings affirm that states cannot prohibit certified films based on mere apprehensions of law and order issues.
The High Court noted that the petitioners had not viewed the complete film, relying only on teaser clippings. Given that the producer had made modifications as directed by the CBFC, the Bench found no sustained grounds to uphold the interim order based on selective excerpts.
