MP High Court clears ‘Haq’ film for release:Shah Bano’s family petition dismissed; production house gets relief, movie to release tomorrow

The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has cleared the way for the release of the film Haq by dismissing a petition filed by the family of Shah Bano. Shah Bano’s daughter, Siddiqui Begum, had filed a plea seeking a stay on the film’s release. However, the High Court, agreeing with the arguments presented by the film’s producers, Junglee Pictures, rejected her petition. The court had reserved its verdict on Tuesday after hearing both sides, and delivered its decision just a day before the film’s scheduled release, marking a major relief for the filmmakers. Petitioner’s plea Siddiqui Begum Khan had filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, seeking to restrain the screening, promotion, and release of Haq and to direct the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to revoke its approval. She alleged that the film, which portrays the life of her late mother, dramatizes personal and matrimonial details without consent, using fabricated and sensationalized content. The petitioner argued that the film violated her mother’s dignity and amounted to commercialization of a personal tragedy. Producers’ defence Senior advocate Ajay Bagadia, appearing for the producers Junglee Pictures, argued that Haq is not a biopic but a fictional adaptation inspired by journalist Jigna Vora’s book “Bano: Bharat Ki Beti” and the 1985 Supreme Court judgment in Mohd. Ahmed Khan vs. Shah Bano Begum. The defence stated that: Advocate Ritik Gupta said that they also pointed out that the petition was filed just six days before the film’s release, despite the film’s announcement and teaser being public for months. Court’s findings Justice Pranay Verma held that privacy and reputation rights expire upon death and cannot be claimed by legal heirs. Since Haq is a fictional work inspired by public records and carries a disclaimer, it falls within the ambit of artistic and creative freedom guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Justice Verma also noted that the petitioner had an alternate legal remedy under the Cinematograph Act but failed to pursue it, and had approached the court belatedly. Verdict Finding no procedural lapse, defamation, or violation of rights, the High Court dismissed the petition as devoid of merit. The ruling clears the way for Haq to release across India on November 7, 2025, as scheduled. ​