The Supreme Court issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government on producer-director Sohan Roy's petition challenging the State's decision to ban the screening of his film "Dam 999" for six months.

A Bench of Justices A K Ganguly and J S Khehar was initially inclined to stay the order but Additional Advocate-General Guru Krishna Kumar, appearing for Tamil Nadu, insisted that the State must be allowed to put in its response before any order was passed as the film was an emotive issue relating to Mullaperiyar dam involving Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The Bench asked Guru Krishna Kumar how the State government could suspend the screening of the film after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has granted a certificate for the exhibition of the film.

The Supreme Court, while seeking the state's response, posted the matter for further hearing on 7th February. The government of Tamil Nadu had banned the film on the ground that it would pose law and order problems as it made apparent references to the Mullaiperiyar dam.