Shweta Tambade
The Madras High Court cancelled four defamation cases against MK Stalin, the DMK president advising political party functionaries to avoid serious personal criticism.
It observed that political parties should be tolerant towards criticisms and speak responsibly.
The High Court said this in concern with Stalin’s comments against ex-Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa regarding her stay at Kodanad in 2012 during her tenure. Stalin had asserted that J Jayalalithaa had not acted during the 2015 Chennai floods.
Judge Satish Kumar imposed an interim injunction on the trial of defamation cases against Stalin.
The State public prosecutor A Natarajan submitted that the case was initiated after the DMK chief accused Jayalalithaa to have stayed in Kodanad on vacation while people were suffering in the State.
The representative of the State also referred to the Supreme Court recently ruling contempt of court against civil rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan for tweeting that the Chief Justice of India was on vacation.
A Natarajan also said, “They must be responsible while making public speeches and should desist from levelling personnel attacks.”