Kushboo thanks Supreme Court

Reacting to the Supreme Court verdict dismissing all cases against her, a relieved Kushboo said, “If you are honest and if you are fighting for justice, then whatever political or money power anybody has, there is a law to protect the normal citizen and my case has proved it.”

The actor, who fought in the courts for four and half years, told PTI that she was grateful to the Supreme Court and all the “people and friends who have stood by me all these years.”

An IANS report said that the actor stood by her comments on pre-marital sex and live-in relationships. “When you look around, every celebrity is pinned down for no rhyme or reason and that is quite a harassment,” Kushboo told NDTV in an interview. “I knew what I had spoken...it's not an easy task for a woman to stand alone and say ‘I believe in what I have spoken,” she added.

Film industry hails decision

Chennai Bureau adds:

The Tamil film industry and people from various other forums hailed the Supreme Court's ruling to dismiss all the cases against Kushboo. Actors, writers and feminists welcomed the decision, terming it a victory for freedom of expression. Writer-journalist Gnani said that by quashing the cases against the actor, the court has upheld one's right to speak.

“People have different perspectives. A society can prosper only if it gives space for healthy discussion. People should encourage pluralistic views,” he said, adding that he did not disagree with the actor's view.

Concurring with him, writer Sivasankari said the protests against Kushboo were needless and the court's decision to dismiss the cases would discourage people to create an uproar over one's personal views.

“There is no need for such cases. She has been unduly harassed for so many years. And a whole section of society blamed her views while there are more pressing issues to attend to,” she said.

While welcoming the Supreme Court's decision, actor Rohini said people who were in the limelight should keep in mind the sentiments of large sections of society and give a balance to their views. Kala, dance master and a close friend of Kushboo, expressed her happiness over the decision.

Congratulating Kushboo on winning the cases, actor Parthiban said it was unfair to harass women and sue them for their personal opinions.

Supreme Court quashes criminal proceedings against Kushboo

In a big relief to actor Kushboo, the Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside a Madras High Court judgment directing the chief metropolitan magistrate, Egmore, to conduct a joint trial of the 23 defamation complaints filed in various places in Tamil Nadu for her alleged remarks on pre-marital sex.

A Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices Deepak Verma and B.S. Chauhan allowed Ms. Kushboo's appeal against the April 30, 2008 judgment. The judgment had ordered consolidation of all cases for a joint trial and disposal of the complaints filed by Ms. Kanniammal and others in six months.

Ms. Kushboo said that in a survey conducted by India Today in September 2005 on ‘pre-marital sex,' she expressed her views on the need for teaching the younger generation sexology either in educational institutions or by parents.

However, she said, certain groups having political affiliation, in view of a by-election in October/November 2005, started a vilification campaign against her solely for achieving political mileage and publicity. Objecting to her statement in the magazine, 23 complaints were filed against her under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (criminal defamation) in various places to harass and victimise her.

Ms. Kushboo argued that the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression could not be impinged upon by vested interests which had unleashed a campaign of systematic complaints.

The Supreme Court accepted her contentions and quashed the criminal proceedings pending against her.

It had stayed these proceedings in May 2008.