The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking a complete ban on the artistes from Pakistan to perform or work in India, and asked the petitioner not to be “so narrow-minded”.
A bench comprising of justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti stated that it wasn’t inclined to interfere with the order of Bombay High Court which junked the plea filed by Faaiz Anwar Qureshi, claims to be a cine worker and artiste.
The bench stated, “You should not press this appeal. Don’t be so narrow-minded.”
The apex court also refused the submission to expunge certain remarks made by the high court against the petitioner.
The petition sought directions of court to the central government to impose a complete ban on Indian citizens, companies, firms and associations from employing or soliciting any work or performance, taking of any services, or entering into any association and so on with any Pakistani artiste, including its cine workers, singers, musicians, lyricists and technicians.
The Bombay High Court has dismissed the petition, stating that the reliefs it seeks is a retrograde step in promoting the cultural harmony, unity and peace, and has no merit in it.
The court stated, “One must understand that in order to be a patriot, one need not be inimical to those from abroad especially, from the neighbouring country.”
It stated, “A true patriot is a person who is selfless, who is devoted to the cause of his country, which he cannot be unless he is a person who is good at heart. A person who is good at heart would welcome in his country any activity which promotes peace, harmony, and tranquillity within the country and across the border.”
The high court stated in its order that, Arts, music, sports, culture, dance and so on are the activities which rise above nationalities, cultures and nations, and truly bring about peace, tranquillity, unity and harmony in nation and between nations.
It further noted that in the Cricket World Cup, Pakistan was a participant.
The high court stated that, this happened only because of appreciable positive steps taken by the Indian government in the interest of overall peace and harmony in consonance with Article 51 of the Constitution of India which is about promotion of international peace and security.
