Don't be so narrow-minded: SC dismisses plea seeking ban on Pakistan artistes to work in India

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea for a complete ban on artistes from Pakistan to perform or work in India. The court asked the petitioner not to be “so narrow-minded”.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S V N Bhatti told the petitioner’s counsel that it is not keen to entertain the plea. 

“You should not press this appeal. Do not be so narrow-minded,” the bench told the petitioner's counsel.

The bench also declined to expunge certain remarks made by the high court against the petitioner, Faaiz Anwar Qureshi.

Claiming to be a cine worker and artiste, Qureshi challenged the Bombay High Court's order, which dismissed his plea.  

He asked the court to order 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 high court had dismissed the plea, saying that one must understand that in order to be a patriot, one is not required to be inimical to those from abroad especially, from the neighbouring country.

The high court had said that in the Cricket World Cup, Pakistan was a participant. It had said 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.