HIGH COURT ASKS BOLLYWOOD PRODUCERS TO REPLY ON BENNETT COLEMAN’S PLEA TO REJECT DEFAMATION SUIT
In the fresh application, the Bennett Coleman and Company Ltd (Times group) has raised the issue of jurisdiction and claimed that the Delhi High Court has no territorial jurisdiction to entertain the lawsuit filed against it by 34 leading producers, including those owned by Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor, Rohit Shetty, Yash Raj Films and R S Entertainment. The Delhi High Court sought response of leading bollywood producers to file a reply within 3 weeks on this application by Bennett Coleman and Company Ltd seeking rejection of the lawsuit filed by them against the media house and others in which leading producers have sought to restrain them from making irresponsible remarks and has also sought that the channels be restrained from interfering with the right to privacy of persons associated with the industry. The matter is listed for further hearing on 23rd March 2021.
POLICE FILE FIR AGAINST ARBAAZ KHAN, SOHAIL KHAN FOR VIOLATING COVID-19 NORMS
An FIR has been registered against actors viz Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan and Sohail’s son Nirvaan Khan for breaking Covid-19 protocol. As per the reports, they had returned to Mumbai from Dubai on December 25 and they were asked to stay in isolation at a hotel. However, they decided to skip the isolation and went home. FIR was registered based on the complaint by a Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) medical officer under Section 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), section 269 (a negligent act which is likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of IPC and Section 3 of Epidemic Diseases Act.
SOBHA SINGH CLAIMS UNETHICAL USE OF PAINTING BY PUNJAB GOVT
Gurcharan Kaur, daughter of legendary painter Sobha Singh, has expressed resentment over “unauthorized use of a painting” of Guru Teg Bahadur by the Punjab Government in its calendar for the year 2021. She claimed that the painting of Guru Tegh Bahadur was created by Sardar Sobha Singh in the year 1972 and have obtained registration of copyright for it in the year 1984. After the death of Sobha Singh the copyright for the painting vests in the name of his daughter Gurcharan Kaur and all rights are reserved with the author/ painter’s family.
PIL FILED TO REMOVE AMITABH BACHCHAN’S VOICE CALLER TUNE ON COVID-19 AWARENESS
A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Delhi High Court for removal of mobile caller tune on Covid-19 awareness in the voice of actor Amitabh Bachchan. The matter is scheduled for next hearing on 18th January 2021.
PLEA AGAINST COLORS TV SHOW ‘NAMAK ISQH KA’: ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
On hearing a PIL, the Allahabad High Court dismissed said PIL filed by Lucknow based dance society, namely ‘Cultural Quest’, seeking to stop public exhibition of a new programme (serial) launched on Colors TV, titled “Namak Issk Ka” alleging that the show’s promo wrongly puts a question to married ladies who have danced on some occasion. The show was alleged to be aired in violation of the provisions of Cinematograph Act, 1952.
CONSUMER COURT PENALIZES BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR FALSE CLAIM: NO HAIR GROWTH AS PROMISED IN ADVERTISEMENT
The District Consumer Redressal Forum, Thrissur, ordered the manufacturers of ‘Dhathri Hair Cream’ and film actor Anoop Menon, the celebrity who endorsed the product in an advertisement, to pay compensation of Rs 10,000 each to a consumer for making “false promises” by the advertisement in which Anoop Menon promised that the use of the product for six weeks will assure lush hair growth. The Court also observed that the precautions mentioned in the brochure along with the product are printed in such a way that it is not even visible even when looked at with the help of a magnifying glass.
MADRAS HIGH COURT ORDERS ONLY 50% OCCUPANCY IN THEATRES TILL JANUARY 11
On hearing the petitions challenging the Tamil Nadu government’s (GO) decision which allowed 100% occupancy in film theatres and multiplexes, the Madras High Court clarified that no permission should be given to run movie theatres with above 50% seating capacity until 11th January 2021.
DELHI HIGH COURT SEEKS RESPONSE FROM TWITTER, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE IN PIL SEEKING ACTION FOR REVEALING IDENTITY OF SEXUAL OFFENCE VICTIMS
The Delhi High Court seeks response from social media platforms viz. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube in PIL seeking action for revealing identity of sexual offence victims. The Plea also prayed for action against BuzzFeed, The Citizen, The Telegraph, iDiva, Janbharat Times, News 18, Dainik Jagran, United News of India, Bansal Times, Dalit Camera, The Millennium Post and Wikifeed.
BOMBAY HIGH COURT STATES TV ADS PROMOTING MAGICAL PROPERTIES AND SUPERSTITIONS ARE ILLEGAL UNDER BLACK MAGIC ACT
The Bombay High Court passed an order stating that telecast of advertisements by TV channels claiming to have special, miraculous or supernatural properties is illegal. The television channel airing such ads will be liable under the provisions of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.
