KATHMANDU: The High Court Patan has extended its interim order restricting the screening of the film ‘Lalibazaar’ and directed the Film Censor Board to submit the original copy of its decision for court review.

A joint bench of Justices Geeta Prasad Timsina and Deepak Khanal issued the order, instructing the board to present the original file while continuing the hearing process.

The court has already extended its earlier interim order issued on April 28, which had barred the film’s release, originally scheduled for May 1. The restriction will remain in force at least until further hearing.

During the proceedings, the court stated that the case has been scheduled for the next hearing and that the matter will be reviewed after examining the original documents from the Censor Board.

“The hearing has been scheduled for tomorrow. For now, the original file will be called from the Censor Board. The interim order stopping the film’s screening until May 5 has been extended until Wednesday, and the matter will be discussed then,” the bench noted.

The case was filed through a writ petition by Roshni Badi, who has objected to the film, claiming it portrays the Badi community in a controversial manner.

The film features Swastima Khadka in the lead role and is written and directed by Yam Thapa.