The Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a stay on the release of Vidhu Vinod Chopra-directed Shikara. The movie uses a love story to depict the exodus of Kashmiri pundits from the erstwhile state in 1990.

The petition was filed by three social activists seeking a stay on the release of the movie arguing that is it is not based on facts and being “communal” in nature.

"In view of the averments made in the petition and the relief claimed, we feel that there is a real urgency involved in the matter and that the response of the official respondents should be obtained in the context of the interim relief prayed for by the petitioners," a division bench of Justices A M Magray and D S Thakur said in the order while issuing notices to the Centre and the Union Territory administration.“We want the Kashmiri Pandits to come back. We don't want any tension between communities: Iftikhar Misgar, petitioner told Times Now after J&K HC’s dismissal of the plea against the film 'Shikara'. Filmmaker Ashok Pandit hailed the HC’s decision stating, “Nobody can dictate the timing of the release of a film”.