The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would not allow the release of the Hindi film Ghooskhor Pandat unless the filmmakers file an affidavit mentioning a new title.

A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said no particular section of society can be denigrated in the name of freedom of speech and expression.

The court asked the filmmaker to file an affidavit, saying only then would it permit the release of the movie.

A person can be criminally prosecuted if they fail to implement the details mentioned in an affidavit.

The top court also issued notices to the Centre, Central Board of Film Certification and the director of the film, Neeraj Pandey, on a PIL filed by Atul Mishra complaining that the movie’s title sought to denigrate Brahmins and must not be allowed to be screened unless the title is changed.

The counsel for the filmmaker orally informed the bench that efforts are underway to release the movie with a new title. The bench then directed that the makers file a written affidavit before the court, saying it would allow the film to be released only after examining the document. The film, with Manoj Bajpayee in the lead, is slated for a Netflix release.

The bench said it expected responsible sections of society, like filmmakers and journalists, to behave more responsibly in the discharge of their duties.

“Why should you denigrate anybody? It’s against morality and public order…. You are creating this kind of unrest when there is already unrest in the country. We thought filmmakers, journalists…are all responsible people and are aware of exceptions and reasonable restrictions of Article 19(1)(a) (fundamental right of speech and expression),” the court said.