SC Hits Out at 'Mob Rule' After K'taka Bans 'Thug Life' Movie

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asserted that no one can prevent the release of a film certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), questioning why Thug Life, a Tamil film starring actor Kamal Haasan, was not being screened in Karnataka.

- Ayesha Arvind

BENGALURU:

A bench of justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan termed the so-called ban on the release of the film in cinema halls and multiplexes across Karnataka as illegal, stating it was triggered by threats of violence from "mobs and vigilante groups."

"Mobs and vigilante groups cannot be permitted to have their way and the rule of law must always prevail," the top court said.

Slamming the disruption caused by the threats of arson and communal incitement, the bench observed, "The so-called ban under threat of violence stems not from any lawful process but from a deliberate campaign of terror, including explicit threats of arson against cinema halls, incitement of large-scale violence targeting linguistic minorities... We can't allow mobs and vigilante groups to take over the streets. The rule of law must prevail. We can't allow this to happen."

The court also questioned the Karnataka high court's directive suggesting that Haasan apologize for his remarks comparing the Tamil and Kannada languages, made during a public event. The bench was categorical, "It is not the business of the court to seek apology from anybody just because he's expressed a view."