CHENNAI : The Madras High Court has permanently restrained the Kumudam group of publications, more particularly the Kumudam Reporter magazine, from writing/publishing anything touching upon the private life of Kanimozhi, MP. Justice R Subramanian made the interim injunction, granted in 2014, absolute on May 16 while passing final orders on the civil suit from Kanimozhi to restrain the Kumudam group of publications and its officials from writing/publishing articles, which damaged her reputation.
The judge, however, made it clear that the restrictions are only with reference to any publication, which involve some matter, which is exclusively private. It is not extended to her functions as an MP or as a leader of the political party, the judge added.
After listening to the arguments of Kanimozhi’s senior counsel P Wilson, the judge observed, “Though there cannot be a blanket stay, there cannot be an order in favour of the publications enabling them to publish anything in the guise of public interest. I am, therefore, of the opinion that the order of injunction granted on January 5, 2014 and modified on April 25, 2016, is to be made absolute, subject to conditions,” the judge said.
The conditions are that the publications shall not publish anything regarding the private life of Kanimozhi and her family, her marriage, procreation, motherhood, child-bearing and education without her consent. Whenever the publications propose to publish any article relating to her private life, the same should be forwarded to Kanimozhi and wait for her response for 48 hours. If any response is received, the same should also be published with the same prominence of the article. If no response is received within 48 hours, the publications are at liberty to carry the same, the judge added.
Riders
If it proposes to publish any article relating to her private life, it should be forwarded to Kanimozhi and wait for her response for 48 hours