KARNATAKA : The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Karnataka government for issuing an “extra-judicial ban” on the screening of film Thug Life, starring veteran actor Kamal Hassan.

A bench comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan expressed concerns regarding the law and order situation in the state while directing the government to file its counter-affidavit by Wednesday.

“We can’t allow mobs and vigilante groups to take over the streets. Rule of law must prevail. We can’t allow this to happen. If somebody has made a statement, counter it with a statement. Somebody has made some writing, counter it with some writing,” the court said.

The Mani Ratnam directorial was banned in Karnataka after protests by pro-Kannada groups against a statement made by actor Kamal Hassan on the language. During the audio launch of the movie in Chennai, the actor-turned-politician had remarked that Kannada was “born out of Tamil.”

The actor also refused to issue an apology, despite repeated threats, further irking the pro-Kannada groups and prompting the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) to announce that the film would not be screened in the state unless Haasan apologised.  Thug Life released in theatres across the country except Karnataka on June 5.

Stressing that the state government has the responsibility to ensure the screening of any film which has a CBFC certificate, the court said, “Rule of law demands that any film which has a CBFC certificate must be released and the State has to ensure its screening. It can’t be at the fear of burning down the cinemas that the film can’t be shown.”

“People may not watch the film. That is a different matter. We are not passing any order that people must watch the film. But the film must be released,” the court said.

The court also expressed disapproval of the Karnataka High Court’s order directing Kamal Hassan to issue an apology for his statements.  “It is none of the business of the High Court,” Justice Bhuyan said.

The court said the people of Karnataka can disagree with the actor but should not have resorted to issuing death threats.  “All the enlightened people of Bangalore can issue a statement that he is wrong. Why should there be a resort to threats?” Justice Bhuyan asked.

“There is something wrong in the system, that one person makes a system..let there be a debate on the issue. Let people say he is wrong,” Justice Manmohan remarked.

The high court had strongly criticised Haasan for his remark suggesting that “Kannada was born out of Tamil,” and observed that a “single apology could have resolved the situation.”

The top court was hearing a plea filed by one M Mahesh Reddy challenging the ban of the movie in Karnataka.

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