India, Aug. 13 -- "The state's first and foremost task is to protect Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of writing, speech and expression as fundamental right," says former Bombay high court judge Mridula Bhatkar, questioning the propriety of the Central Board of Film Certification's (CBFC) move to stay the screening of 'Khalid ka Shivaji', a Marathi film which is in the eye of a storm following objections from a group of protestors.

After watching the film at a special screening last week, Bhatkar pointed out, "While the board's decision, prima facie, falls within the ambit of section 6 (1) and (2) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the manner in which they were invoked seems arbitrary and contrary to the principle of...