Bengaluru City Civil Court: In a suit filed against actor and filmmaker Kamal Haasan by Kannada Sahitya Parishattu (‘KSP’) under Section 26 and Order 7 Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (‘CPC’), regarding his statement that Kannada was born out of Tamil, the Single Judge Bench of Madhu N. R., J., allowed the suit, thereby restraining Kamal Haasan by way of an ad-interim ex-parte temporary injunction from making any such statements.
Background
The KSP, a historic Kannada literary and cultural institution established in 1915, has been working towards the promotion of Kannada Language, literature, and culture across the state of Karnataka.
As per the affidavit filed by the KSP, Kamal Haasan, during one of his movie promotions, stated that “Kannada was born out of Tamil”. This statement was widely circulated in print, social media, etc., across the nation and hurt the sentiments of the Kannadigas. KSP alleged that by making such remarks, Kamal Haasan was claiming superiority of one language over the other.
Aggrieved, the KSP filed a suit against Kamal Haasan, in a representative capacity on behalf of the Kannadigas, seeking a permanent injunction restraining him or any person acting through or under him from making same or similar remarks in the future having the effect of hurting the sentiments of Kannada people regarding their land, language and culture.
Analysis and Decision
At the outset, the Court opined that the KSP was empowered to take any steps in the interest of Kannadigas, their literature, and culture.
On perusal of all the documents, the Court opined that the KSP had made out essential requisite grounds for the grant of relief in their favour. The Court held that granting ex-parte ad-interim relief of a temporary injunction against Kamal Haasan was necessary to prevent him from making any statement/remarks claiming linguistic superiority of one language over another and thereby hurting the sentiments of Kannada people in respect of their land, language, and culture till the next date of hearing. If, instead of granting ex-parte ad-interim order of temporary injunction, the Court were to order issuance of notice to Kamal Haasan, then the very purpose of granting temporary injunction would be defeated by delay.
Accordingly, the Court restrained Kamal Haasan his agents, assigns, representatives or any person acting under or through him, by way ad-interim ex-parte order of temporary injunction, from 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, i.e., 30-08-2025.
The Court further directed KSP to publish a public advertisement regarding the filing of the present suit in a representative capacity on behalf of Kannadigas.
[Kannada Sahitya Parishattu v. Kamal Haasan, 2025 SCC OnLine Dis Crt (Kar) 3, decided on 04-07-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the petitioner: Chintan Chinnappa