In a significant order, the Madhya Pradesh High Court bench of Justice Pranay Verma has refused to stay the release of the film Haq, inspired by the landmark Shah Bano maintenance case. The court dismissed the plea filed by Siddiqua Begum Khan, daughter of the late Shah Bano Begum, who claimed the film misrepresents her mother’s life and infringes on her privacy and personality rights.

Rejecting these arguments, the court ruled that privacy and reputation rights do not continue after death.

“Privacy or reputation earned by a person during his or her lifetime extinguishes with his or her death. It cannot be inherited like a movable or immovable property.” the bench held.

The judge also accepted the filmmakers’ stance that the movie is fictional and includes a clear disclaimer stating it is a dramatized adaptation inspired by the Supreme Court judgment.

The Court further observed that the film is largely based on publicly available court records, stating that once information becomes public record, the right to privacy no longer applies. Additionally, the Court criticized the petitioner for filing the plea just days before the release, noting her conduct was not that of a “vigilant litigant.”

The film Haq will release on 7th November, 2025 as scheduled.

Case Details: Siddiqua Begum Khan vs. Union of India, WP No. 42708 of 2025