Karnataka court restrains Kamal Haasan from making defamatory statements about Kannada

A Karnataka court on Friday passed an order restraining actor Kamal Haasan from making any statements or remarks defaming Kannada language, literature, land and culture.

The Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Madhu N R passed the interim order on a suit filed by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat and its President Nadoja Dr. Mahesh Joshi (plaintiffs).

"The defendant, his agents, assigns, representatives or any person acting under or through them are hereby restrained, by way ad-interim exparte order of temporary injunction, from posting, making, issuing, writing, publishing and / or distributing any statement or remarks claiming linguist superiority over Kannada language or by making any statements having the effect of causing hurt or defaming the Kannada language, literature, land and culture till the next date of hearing," the Court ordered.

The suit was initiated in response to Haasan’s alleged defamatory remark claiming that "Kannada was born out of Tamil," which the plaintiffs argued was offensive to the Kannada language and its speakers.

The contentious remark was purportedly made by Kamal Haasan during the audio launch of his film Thug Life.

The plaintiffs moved the Court seeking a permanent injunction along with direction to Haasan to tender an unconditional apology to the people of Karnataka and the Kannada-speaking population.

The Court on Friday directed the plaintiff to comply with the procedural requirements under Order XXXIX Rule 3(a) of the Civil Procedure Code and to issue a public notice as mandated by Order I Rule 8(2) CPC, considering the representative nature of the suit filed on behalf of Kannadigas.

"The plaintiff is hereby directed to comply with Order 39 Rule 3(a) of CPC. The plaintiff shall also issue a public advertisement under Order 1 Rule 8(2) in view of the representative capacity in which the present suit has been filed. Further, the plaintiff shall furnish copies of the plaint, interlocutory application, documents, and the required process fee—without any deficit—for the issuance of summons within seven days from this date. Failing which, the above order of temporary injunction will automatically stand vacated," the order stated.

The Court issued notice to Haasan and listed the matter for further hearing on August 30.

Haasan's comment that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil' had recently triggered a backlash and calls to boycott his film Thug Life in Karnataka.

Haasan had moved the Karnataka High Court for relief so that the film could be released.

After failing to secure an order in his favour, he approached the Supreme Court.

The top court then told the Karnataka government to ensure that there is no obstruction to the release of the film in Karnataka.

The Court had also criticized the State for allowing mob rule to take over, leading to a delay in the film's release in Karnataka.

[Read Order]