New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday (June 19) directed the State of Karnataka to prominently take appropriate action under the law, including damages, if any individual or group prevent the release of movie or resort to coercion or violence.
A bench comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan recorded the response of the State of Karnataka paving the way for the release of actor Kamal Haasan’s movie “Thug Life” in the state and directed the state government to contain any “divisive element” posing as a threat to the release of the film in the state.
The bench, while closing the case related to the non-release of the movie in the state over Haasan’s comments about Kannada language, expressed its displeasure where sentiment of someone was hurt by utterances and the film was stalled from releasing, or a standup show was cancelled or an artist was stopped from reciting a poem.
“We cannot allow this to happen. Just because of an opinion, should a movie be stopped? A stand-up comedy should be stopped? Recital of a poem should be stopped?,” the bench asked during the hearing and added, “There is no end to hurt sentiments in India. If a stand-up comedian says something, sentiments are hurt and there is vandalism…where are we heading?”
The apex court recorded the submissions made by the State of Karnataka in its affidavit in which it categorically said that it has not imposed any restriction on the release of the movie and if the producer decides to release film, the State government will provide full protection and security.
The bench also said that the respondents in the case are bind by the statements they have made before the top court.
The bench, however, refused petitioner’s prayer to lay down guidelines and impose some cost to deal with such cases.
The top court earlier this week pulled up the State of Karnataka for non-release of the film in the State over controversy over Haasan’s comments about Kannada language and had given one day of time to the state government to apprise it about the release of the movie in the state.
The top court, while asking the State to must ensure the release of the movie in Karnataka, had said during the last hearing that mob and vigilantes cannot be allowed to take to the streets and rule of law has to be established and guns cannot be put to head of people to stop them from watching the film. The court had also transferred to the apex court the matter related to the non-release of the movie pending before the Karnataka High Court and had posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday.
Hassan-starrer movie “Thug Life” released in cinema halls across the country on June 5, however, it could not be released in the State of Karnataka after Hassan’s reported comments about Kannada language suggesting that “Kannada was born out of Tamil” made at a promotional event in Chennai sparked a major controversy.
