New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that "persons holding public office"should not comment on matters pending before the Central Board of Film Certification, handing a rebuke to the political class while hearing a petition relating to the movie Padmavati.

Although the court did not name any politician or party, the rap came days after the BJP chief ministers of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan had declared their intention of banning the movie in their states for allegedly hurting Rajput sentiments.

PTI quoted Bihar's Nitish Kumar as saying on Tuesday that he too was against allowing the film to release until its makers had issued a clarification to end the controversy. Last week, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath had advocated cuts in the film to avoid hurting sentiments.

"What is the need of persons in responsible posts to make these controversial comments? When the matter is pending for CBFC's consideration, how can persons holding public office comment on whether CBFC should issue a certificate or not? It'll prejudice the decision-making of CBFC," the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud observed.

It said the "rule of law" mandated that no one, not even the courts, could pre-judge such matters before the CBFC had taken a decision.

"We are sure they (politicians) will be guided by the basic premise under the rule of law and not venture outside. If the court cannot pre-judge (a film), we are surprised how anybody else can pre-judge the film under the law," Justice Misra observed.

Asked by the court, additional solicitor-general Maninder Singh agreed that responsible people should not make unwarranted statements.

Petitioner M.L. Sharma, an advocate, had sought criminal prosecution of the movie's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and producer Mukesh Ambani, and a stay on the film's release abroad, which he claimed the makers were planning.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the producer, said there were no plans for a release abroad without CBFC clearance. The court dismissed the petition, saying it was desisting from fining the petitioner only because he was a practising advocate.

Many BJP politicians and Rajput groups have accused the film of hurting their sentiments by portraying a romantic dream sequence featuring legendary Rajput queen Padmavati and 14th-century Delhi sultan Alauddin Khilji. Bhansali has denied there is any such sequence.

Many historians are unconvinced that Padmavati actually existed.