Moviegoers and film distributors have hailed the verdict of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which quashed the state government's order prohibiting the screening of "The Da Vinci code".

Film lovers who were eager to watch the controversial movie and film distributors who fought the ban welcomed the verdict, which cleared the decks for its release.

"We have been waiting to watch the film because the controversy surrounding it only added to our curiosity," said Ashwini Kumar, a student of Class 12. He along with friends had planned to watch the movie June 2 but the government banned its screening a day before it was to be released.

"I will watch the first show of the movie because I have read so much about it in newspapers," said Arun, another college student.

The film is now likely to be released either June 24 or June 30. Buoyed by the court verdict, the distributors also plan to release the Telugu version of the movie based on Dan Brown's best-selling novel.

Sony Pictures, the distributors of the film, said they planned to release the movie in English and Hindi either this Saturday or next Friday. The Telugu version is likely to take some more time.

"It is a welcome decision for all of us. We have been waiting eagerly for this judgement," said Arindam Basu, marketing head of Sony Pictures.

Christian leaders, however, were divided over the court order.

While archbishop Marampudi Joji said they would abide by the order, the youth wing of the National Congress of Indian Christians plans to challenge the verdict.

"The government failed to present the case in an effective way. We will see whether we can again approach the court," said C.A. Daniel Adams, president of the youth wing. He feels the film could mislead people on the life of Jesus Christ.

The high court, on petitions by Sony Pictures and two others, Wednesday quashed the June 1 government order banning the screening of the movie all over the state. It also imposed costs on the government for resorting to such "irresponsible" action.

The movie was to be released June 2 all over the state but a day before the release the state government issued an order prohibiting its screening in all versions.

The government move came following protests by various Christian and Muslim groups who alleged that the movie would hurt religious sentiments. The government, in its order, contended that the film might lead to law and order problems.

Justice Raghu Ram, in his order, said the authorities who had passed the ban order had not even seen the film. He noted that the special chief secretary, home, "mechanically certified" the veto of a few people who objected rather than arriving at a decision based on informed satisfaction.

"The constitution does not confer or tolerate such individualised hyper-sensitive private censor intrusion into and regulation of guaranteed freedom of others," the judge said in his 48-page order.