Smoking in films allowed, rules Delhi High Court

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday struck down the Centre's October 2006 notification banning smoking scenes in films, saying onscreen smoking was part of an artist���s creative license.

Today���s judgement came after a two-judge bench had given a split verdict last year on a petition of film director Mahesh Bhatt challenging the curbs imposed by the government.

"Director of films should not have multifarious authorities breathing down their necks when indulging in creative act," Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said striking down the rules framed by the Centre.