Justice S. Vimala of the Madras High Court on Thursday recused herself from hearing a case against certain “objectionable” lines in the lyrics of ‘Ulagam Oruvanukkaa’ song of Rajini-starrer ‘Kabali’ since her son Vivek had penned the rap portions of the song.
When the case came up before her in the Madras High Court Bench here, the judge directed the High Court Registry to list the case before some other judge after obtaining necessary orders from Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao, the administrative judge of the High Court.
The judge told the petitioner’s counsel that it would not be appropriate for her to hear the case when her son was part of a team that created the song.
The petitioner V. Maharajan of Netaji Subash Sena had sought for a direction to Madurai city police to register a case against the filmmakers.
‘Hurt sentiments’
He claimed that the lines ‘ Kalagam Seidhu Kabali Aandaiyarin Kadhaiyai Mudipaan… Mettukudiyin Koopaadu, Ini Naatukulla Ketkaadhu’ hurt the sentiments of people belonging to General Category and Backward Classes and were capable of inciting caste animosity.
Exorbitant ticket rates
In a related development, a Division Bench of Justice Mr. Rao and Justice S.S. Sundar adjourned by two weeks a public interest litigation petition filed by a law graduate B. Karthee of Madurai seeking action against theatres which charge exorbitant rates for Kabali tickets.
Stating that there were many other pressing issues which require the consideration of the court, the senior judge said that cases filed as a matter of routine during film releases of big stars could always wait as there was no great urgency involved in those issues.
Justice S. Vimala recused herself from a case against a song in ‘Kabali’ as her son had penned it
