NEW DELHI: The Bombay High Court, in a landmark decision, has dismissed a petition seeking a ban on Indian citizens, companies, and associations from engaging Pakistani artists, including actors, singers, musicians, lyricists, and technicians, WION TV said on Sunday.

A division bench of Justice Sunil B. Shukre and Justice Firdosh P. Pooniwalla firmly stated that the petition represents a “retrograde step in promoting cultural harmony, unity, and peace, and has no merit in it.”

The petitioner, a cine worker, had sought directions from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Home Affairs to issue appropriate notifications imposing a ban and prohibiting the granting of visas to Pakistani artists working in India.

According to reports, the plea cited the resolution passed by the All-Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) in the aftermath of the Pulwama attacks, along with similar resolutions by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) and the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE). They demanded banning Pakistani artists from the Indian film industry. The MNS Cinema Wing, created by Raj Thakeray, also cautioned filmmakers against hiring Pakistani artists.

Advocate Vibhav Krishna, representing the petitioner, argued that allowing Pakistani artists to work in India could lead to discrimination against Indian artists. He contended that the favourable environment available to Pakistani artists in India is not reciprocated for Indian artists in Pakistan. According to Krishna, the ban is essential to prevent the exploitation of commercial opportunities by Pakistani artists in India, which could potentially deprive Indian artists of similar opportunities.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2023