Just because someone's sentiment is hurt, movie can't be stopped: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Karnataka government to act against those obstructing the release of Kamal Haasan starrer 'Thug Life' in the state and said a movie, stand-up comedy or a poem's recital can't be stopped only because someone's sentiments are hurt.
A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan said, 'There is no end to hurting sentiments in India. If a stand-up comedian says something, sentiments are hurt and there is vandalism and protests. Where are we heading? Does it mean because of protests, a movie should be stopped or stand- up comedy should be stopped or reciting of poems be stopped?' The top court then recorded Karnataka government's assurance that it would provide adequate security to cinema theatres screening the film.
'The State has filed an affidavit, paving the way for the release of the movie..., we find that it would be in the interest of justice to bring closure to the matter. We don't find it appropriate to lay guidelines or impose costs. However, we direct the State of Karnataka that if any individual or group prevents the release of a movie or resorts to coercion or violence, the State shall act promptly by taking action under criminal and civil law, including damages,' the bench said.
The top court also questioned the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) for seeking an apology from veteran actor Kamal Haasan over his remark that Kannada was born out of Tamil. 'We cannot allow this to happen. Just because of an opinion, should a movie be stopped?' the bench asked. However, counsel for KFCC said that they did not issue any threats but only issued a letter that there was widespread protests across the state and kindly consider issuing an apology.
The KFCC counsel that the mob entered their offices and after that they had issued a letter. Justice Bhuyan asked if KFCC had made any complaint to the police in this regard. 'You actually succumbed to mob pressure. Did you go to the police? No. That means you have no complaints against them. You are just hiding behind them,' he observed. The KFCC counsel said that they would abide by any order passed by the court.
Counsel appearing for Kamal Haasan's RajKamal Film International Ltd, one of the producers of the film, said though they had lost Rs 30 crore (in revenue) so far, they had no problems if the state agreed to provide security for screening of the film.
The top court was hearing a PIL filed by one M Mahesh Reddy seeking directions to allow the screening of 'Thug Life', which was not released in Karnataka after Haasan's remarks. Advocate A Velan, appearing for Reddy, said the state did not take any action against the persons who issued threats against the film and that its affidavit was silent on the issue.
He referred to the apex court's slew of guidelines on mob violence and hate speeches, which the state was bound to follow in the present case. The counsel for the state assured action against those issuing threats against the film's release. Senior advocate Sanjay Nuli, appearing for the Kannada Sahitya Parishad, said language was an emotive issue in Karnataka, and sentiments were running high due to the remarks. The bench asked whether the organisation was supporting the unofficial ban on the movie and burning down of theatres.
'The movie can be screened, subject to an apology by the actor. Otherwise, it will aggravate the situation,' Nuli said. The bench retorted, 'Where is the question of apology? You cannot take the law into your hands. If you are hurt by the statements, then file a defamation case.' Nuli clarified he was not supporting those who took matters in their own hands or violence. 'And you will not obstruct the release of the movie,' Justice Bhuyan cautioned.
On June 17, the top court came down heavily on the Karnataka government after the actor's movie' was not screened in theatres in the state and observed that mob and vigilantes cannot be allowed to take over streets. Justice Manmohan had said that rule of law demands that any film which has a CBFC certificate must be released and the State has to ensure its screening.
'You cannot put a gun on people's head and say don't watch the movie. It can't be that in the fear of burning down the cinemas, that the film can't be shown. People may not watch the film. That is a different matter.
We are not passing any order that people must watch the film. But the film must be released,' he had said. 'Thug Life' released in cinema halls across the country on June 5.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Hans India

36 minutes ago

• Hans India

Classroom case: ED raids 37 locations in Delhi, seizes 322 bank passbooks

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Delhi Zonal Office conducted search operations at 37 locations across the national Capital under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in the Delhi classroom construction irregularities case and recovered digital evidence and 322 bank passbooks linked to mule accounts opened in the names of labourers, allegedly to divert government funds. "During the searches, original departmental files belonging to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and rubber stamps of officials of Public Works Department (PWD), various incriminating documents showing fake invoices submitted to GNCTD departments, showing inflated/bogus claims, digital evidence and 322 bank passbooks linked to mule accounts opened in the names of labourers to divert government funds were recovered and seized", said an ED Press statement on Friday. It is pertinent to note here that the ED initiated this investigation on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on April 30, alleging irregularities in the construction of 12,748 classrooms or semi-permanent structures in government schools. On April 30, the ACB registered a FIR against senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers Manish Sisodia (the then Education Minister) and Satyendar Jain (the then Public Works Department minister) and others, over alleged corruption in the construction of classrooms. The FIR was pertaining to financial misappropriation exceeding Rs 2,000 crore in the construction of approximately 12,748 additional classrooms by the PWD, between 2015 and 2023. Notably, Manish Sisodia on Friday was questioned for nearly three hours by the ACB over the same case. The former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi left the ACB's office at around 2.40 P.M. after appearing before investigators around noon. While the former education minister accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing investigative agencies for political vendetta, the ACB said that the scam involved inflated costs in the construction of classrooms and school buildings under the Delhi government.

Hans India

36 minutes ago

• Hans India

Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi hit back at PM Modi, demand 20-year report card of NDA govt

Patna: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and the Congress over alleged "jungle raj", "corruption", and "dynastic politics" during his rally at Bihar's Siwan on Friday, the RJD leadership launched a sharp counterattack, questioning the Prime Minister's own legacy and the performance of the double-engine government in the state. Lalu Prasad Yadav took a swipe at the Prime Minister with a sarcastic weather warning posted on social media platform X. Sharing an AI-generated video mocking PM Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the RJD supremo wrote: "Weather warning in the interest of Bihar -- Today there is a heavy rain of lies, slogans and confusion in Bihar, hailstorms of false and tempting promises are also falling with thunder. Be careful." Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav also took to social media to issue a pointed rebuttal, challenging the Prime Minister to present a 20-year report card of the NDA's governance in Bihar and his own leadership at the Centre. He posted a graphic with the headline: "PM Modi, give an answer in the election tour of Bihar and a full account of 20 years." Accompanying the poster, he tweeted: "Sir, don't lie, give the account of 20 years." In a series of tough questions, Tejashwi wrote: "Despite having a double-engine government for 20 years in Bihar and your leadership at the Centre for 11 years, why does Bihar still rank lowest in terms of poverty, unemployment, per capita income, investment, literacy, and industrial development as per your own NITI Aayog and national reports?" He also credited his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, for establishing key institutions in the Tirhut division. "Lalu Yadav established JP University and three major railway factories, including the Marhaura rail engine factory that is now exporting locomotives abroad?" he said. Tejashwi also said: "Will you tell the people of Bihar that during your 20 years of rule, more than one lakh people have been murdered, and over one lakh girls raped? Will you be ashamed to call this your achievement or ignore it as usual?" He also asked why poverty, unemployment, rampant crime, crime against women, corruption, migration, 'Damadvaad' (Brother-in-law) and other issues are still taking place in Bihar. He even compared Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's current condition to past criticisms by PM Modi. Friday marked PM Modi's fifth visit to Bihar in 2025, where he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 5,736 crore in Siwan. With Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for later this year, national political activity in the state has surged.

Scroll.in

37 minutes ago

• Scroll.in

BJP accounted for nearly 45% of election spending during 2024 Lok Sabha polls: Report

The Bharatiya Janata Party spent nearly Rs 1,494 crore during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the four Assembly polls held along with it, said a report by the non-governmental organisation Association for Democratic Reforms on Friday. The Hindutva party received funds to the tune of Rs 6,268 crore, or 84.18% of the total funds collected by political parties during the 82-day election period from March 16 to June 6 last year. The Congress collected Rs 592.48 crore, which amounted to 7.96% of the total amount. The BJP spent Rs 1,493.91 crore during this period, which amounted to 44.56% of the total expenditure that political parties incurred. Among the 32 political parties that the report analysed, the Congress had the second highest expenses at Rs 620.14 crore, or 18.50% of the total expenditure during the election period. In total, political parties spent Rs 3,352.81 crore during last year's Lok Sabha election and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. The BJP spent Rs 983.92 crore on publicity during this period, while the Congress spent Rs 502.97 crore, said the Association for Democratic Reforms. This included media advertisements, publicity material and public meetings. On the whole, political parties spent over Rs 2,008 crore, or over 53% of their declared expenditure, on publicity. Parties also spent Rs 795.41 crore on travel, out of which Rs 765.36 crore, or 96.22%, was spent on travel expenses of star campaigners, the report found. The Association for Democratic Reforms published the analysis based on expenditure statements that political parties have to file with the Election Commission within 90 days of a parliamentary election and 75 days of an Assembly election. However, it noted significant delays by political parties in submitting these statements. The maximum delay was by the Aam Aadmi Party (168 days) followed by the BJP (139 days for the Lok Sabha elections, 154 days for Arunachal Pradesh, 147 days for Sikkim and 142 days for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha).