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CHENNAI: The Madras high court has issued an interim stay on the release of 'Jayalalithaa — A Portrait' till June 7 by Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd.
A petition filed by AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa, naming Outlook Publishing (India) Private Limited and the author Vaasanthi as respondents in the case, sought an injunction order restraining them from publishing the leader's biography "by any name or in any form, at any time in the future without due verification."
Terming the book defamatory, the petition also said the excerpts published in the March issue of Outlook magazine indicated that the "major content" of the book was "false and reckless, with total disregard for truth." The petition listed out a few excerpts dealing with Jayalalithaa's childhood, her acquaintance with Sashikala and her stint in politics.
Pointing out that the book infringed on her right to privacy, Jayalalithaa stated, "I submit that no one has a right to publish anything concerning personal private matters without consent, whether truthful or otherwise, whether laudatory or critical. I submit that admittedly my consent had not been taken by the respondents to write and publish details about my private life and hence it is a clear case of invasion of my privacy, and in such a situation, it is not necessary for me to wait for the publication and then claim damages, but to move for a preventive action at this stage itself so that my right is not violated, hence this application and suit."
She added that as a citizen, she had the right to safeguard her privacy regarding her family, marriage, procreation, motherhood, child-bearing and education among other matters.
Noting that the book was "not an authorised biography", the AIADMK leader also said, "This biography is a concerted effort/attempt to tarnish my dignity, prestige, image and reputation with a malafide intention of upsetting my position in the political and public fora. Apparently, this is with a view to harming the AIADMK party."
Passing orders on the matter, the first bench comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justice TS Sivagnanam, issued notice to all the respondents, returnable by June 7
A petition filed by AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa, naming Outlook Publishing (India) Private Limited and the author Vaasanthi as respondents in the case, sought an injunction order restraining them from publishing the leader's biography "by any name or in any form, at any time in the future without due verification."
Terming the book defamatory, the petition also said the excerpts published in the March issue of Outlook magazine indicated that the "major content" of the book was "false and reckless, with total disregard for truth." The petition listed out a few excerpts dealing with Jayalalithaa's childhood, her acquaintance with Sashikala and her stint in politics.
Pointing out that the book infringed on her right to privacy, Jayalalithaa stated, "I submit that no one has a right to publish anything concerning personal private matters without consent, whether truthful or otherwise, whether laudatory or critical. I submit that admittedly my consent had not been taken by the respondents to write and publish details about my private life and hence it is a clear case of invasion of my privacy, and in such a situation, it is not necessary for me to wait for the publication and then claim damages, but to move for a preventive action at this stage itself so that my right is not violated, hence this application and suit."
She added that as a citizen, she had the right to safeguard her privacy regarding her family, marriage, procreation, motherhood, child-bearing and education among other matters.
Noting that the book was "not an authorised biography", the AIADMK leader also said, "This biography is a concerted effort/attempt to tarnish my dignity, prestige, image and reputation with a malafide intention of upsetting my position in the political and public fora. Apparently, this is with a view to harming the AIADMK party."
Passing orders on the matter, the first bench comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justice TS Sivagnanam, issued notice to all the respondents, returnable by June 7
