NEW DELHI: Reminded on Tuesday of its duty to uphold rule of law and protect citizen’s right to free speech, Karnataka govt on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that if the film ‘Thug Life’ is released in the state theatres it will take every step to maintain law and order and provide security to those associated with screening and viewers.In an affidavit filed on the eve of the Thursday hearing before a bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan, the state govt through counsel D L Chidanand assured that “in the event the producers of the film decide to release the movie in Karnataka, the state govt is duty bound and will give protection and security for such release and for the people connected therewith, including the cast, director, producers, the exhibitors, and the audience.”It said the state has not imposed any restriction on the release of the movie ‘Thug Life’, which has been duly certified by the Central Board of Film Certification.However, it said during the June 3 hearing before Karnataka HC, the film producer Rajkamal Films International had given an undertaking to the HC that it “will not release the movie in Karnataka till they resolve the issue with Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC).” SC on Tuesday transferred the producer’s petition from the HC to itself.KFCC, the apex body of Karnataka film industry, had written a letter to Hasan on May 30 expressing its displeasure at certain statements made by him at a promotional event and had sought his apology. The HC during the hearing had repeatedly asked why Hasan was so reluctant to apologize or express regret when public sentiment is hurt.In contrast, the SC bench of Justices Bhuyan and Manmohan on Tuesday had observed that “The HC had no business to seek regret or apology. As a custodian of rule of law and protector of rights, it should have considered the issue of whether a CBFC cleared film be allowed to be released in theatres of the state… Public sentiment does not mean a gun is put to the head of the theatre owners to stop screening of the film.”On the threat of violence issued by a vigilante group, the bench had said, “The Rule of Law demands that the film be released in the theatres of Karnataka. As democratic state, Karnataka cannot allow mobs to jeopardise the rule of law. The state must ensure that the rule of law prevails”In its affidavit, the Siddaramaiah govt told the SC that it is “the duty and responsibility of the state govt to uphold the fundamental rights of its citizens and in maintaining the ‘Rule of Law’ in the state, and the state govt and its instrumentalities are committed in discharging such duties and protecting the fundamental rights of its citizens, including the fundamental rights of the stakeholders involved in the present issue.”
