The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the pleas filed by the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments seeking modification of its 18 January order which had cleared the decks for the countrywide release of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period film “Padmaavat” from 25 January.

The top court asserted that the states and protesters must “abide by our order” as it dismissed their last-ditch bid to block Padmaavat’s release.

A Bench ~ headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and also comprising Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice D Y Chandrachud ~ reportedly said: “People must understand that the Supreme Court has passed an order and it must be complied with.”

The CJI said, “Our order is to be complied with by one and all. A few hundred people come on the street and create a law and order situation demanding ban. That can’t be accepted.”

CJI Misra told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments, that “You can advise them not to watch the movie if they don’t like it. We will not modify our order” as Mehta sought to highlight the law and order problem as a ground for blocking the film’s release.

“Those who wish, will watch the movie, and those who don’t like, will not watch. It is upto them,” the Bench said, adding “people must understand that the Supreme Court has passed an order. They must abide by it.”

The apex court also dismissed a plea by Rajput groups seeking to stall the movie. “We are not inclined to modify our (18 January) order,” the Bench ruled.

Some Rajput groups like Karni Sena have been protesting, even violently, against “Padmaavat”, and have threatened to escalate their agitation against its countrywide release in coming days.

While conceding that maintaining law and order was the state’s obligation, the ASG pleaded that the apex court should appreciate the ground situation and threat to peace.

“You can’t make virtue of creating trouble. You can’t first create trouble and then make a virtue of it,” Justice Chandrachud said. Seeking clarification, Mehta said a situation could arise resulting in trouble in some places following the film’s release. “Let the states honour this order. Rest we will deal with when it comes,” Justice Khanwilkar said.