New Delhi: Amidst the raging controversy over the film "Jodha Akbar", a Supreme Court bench's view that Moghul Emperor Akbar was married to Jodhabhai is bound to offer succour to the film maker whose magnum opus has invited the wrath of some cinegoers.

While critics of the film had questioned the veracity of the claim relating to Akbar's marriage to Jodhabhai, a bench of Justices H K Sema and Markandeya Katju seemed to concur with the view of the film maker that Akbar was indeed married to Jodhabhai.

In its 36-page judgement upholding the nine-day ban on the sale of meat in Ahmedabad by the civic body, the bench said that the Emperor gave equal respect to people of different communities and was married to a Hindu woman Jodhabhai.

"He abolished Jeziya in 1564 and the pilgrim tax in 1563 on Hindus and permitted his Hindu wife to continue to practice her own religion even after their marriage. This is evident from the Jodha Bai Palace in Fatehpur Sikri which is built on Hindu architectural pattern," Justice Katju remarked in his judgement.

Quoting history Justice Katju also said, "Emperor Akbar himself used to remain a vegetarian for a few days every week out of respect for the vegetarian section of the India society and out of respect for his Hindu wife. We too should have similar respect for the sentiments of others, even if they are a minority sect."
Source : PTI