SC pulls up Karnataka for inaction, says state must not yield to vigilante threats over 'Thug Life'

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Karnataka government to ensure that there is no obstruction to the release of Kamal Haasan-starrer film 'Thug Life' in the state.

Following the direction, the state assured SC that it will provide protection to the film makers so that the film's release is not obstructed in the state. A bench comprising justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan also disapproved of the state's inaction in dealing with such threats to free speech.

The development took place during the resumed hearing of a plea filed by a Bengaluru resident M Mahesh Reddy, who highlighted that despite having a valid censor certificate the film was effectively banned in Karnataka due to threats by fringe organisations and inaction by state authorities.


The petitioner urged SC to lay down guidelines to prevent such incidents from recurring in future, but the bench refused.

The bench made it clear that the state government cannot bow to pressure from vigilante groups. "Just because of an opinion a movie is stopped, a stand up comedian is stopped, a person is stopped from reciting a poem ... You (State) succumbed to their pressure. In such circumstances the state has a duty. Simply saying a ban is not imposed will take it nowhere. You are hiding behind these groups," the bench verbally remarked.