SC Rebukes Karnataka HC Over Kamal Haasan Apology Remark
The Supreme Court of India has strongly criticized the Karnataka High Court for suggesting that actor Kamal Haasan should apologize over a linguistic comment made during the promotion of his upcoming film Thug Life. The apex court described the High Court’s remarks as unwarranted and asserted that compelling an apology is “none of its business.”
The controversy erupted after Haasan remarked at a public event that the Kannada language originated from Tamil. The statement triggered outrage among Kannada language activists and certain groups, leading to threats of protests and calls to block the film’s release in Karnataka. The Karnataka High Court, in its observations, implied that an apology would have defused the situation, a position the Supreme Court has now rejected as legally untenable.
Supreme Court Orders Immediate Release
A bench comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan ordered the unconditional release of Thug Life in Karnataka, emphasizing that the film is certified by the Central Board of Film Certification and cannot be obstructed by extra-legal pressures or demands for personal atonement.
The bench underscored that the rule of law cannot be subverted by mobs, and personal disagreement with a public figure’s statements does not give anyone the right to suppress artistic expression or demand a public apology. The Court also made it clear that citizens are free to boycott the film if they disagree with its maker’s views, but cannot prevent its screening.
Judicial Overreach Called Out
The Supreme Court’s sharp remarks were directed at the Karnataka High Court’s intervention, which it said crossed the line into judicial overreach. The judges reaffirmed that courts are not platforms to negotiate apologies, nor should they validate demands made under threat of protests or intimidation.
Further, the Supreme Court has transferred the pending PIL related to the case from Karnataka to itself and directed the state government to file a compliance affidavit within 24 hours confirming that Thug Life will be screened without obstruction.
