Vishal’s suspension revoked, submits Film Producers Council

The TFPC informed the Madras High Court that it has revoked the suspension of Vishal at their executive committee meeting held on February 2 leading to the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar, dismissing the appeal moved by Vishal since it had become infructuous. 

Vishal had filed a civil suit challenging his suspension on November 14, 2016 by TFPC following an interview to a private TV channel, wherein he had criticised the council’s inaction over checking on piracy. Despite him tendering an unconditional apology, TFPC refused to withdraw his suspension and a single judge had also ruled in TFPC’s favour. Based on this, Vishal had moved an appeal stating that the single judge had ruled against him without hearing him on the merits of the case. 

However, when the appeal came up before the first bench on Thursday, the Chief Justice sought to know as to whether members in the producers’ council failed to have freedom of speech. He observed that they ought to withdraw the suspension for behaving like a Kangaroo court or else he would pass orders. Following this, the producer’s council passed a resolution withdrawing Vishal’s suspension based on the apology tendered by him and informed the court about the same.

Even as the oil slick following the colliding of two ships off the Ennore port on Saturday has spread until Palavakkam on the East Coast Road, the Madras High Court has sought the state government to take urgent steps as deemed proper in the given situation.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar while disposing a plea moved by the National Union of Fishermen, said “It transpires that the apprehension of the petitioner is that on principle of ‘polluter pays,’ if the Iranian ship crosses the territorial water, the government may not be able to recover anything. This, of course, in no manner absolves the government of the responsibility to take necessary steps to remove the pollutant for which the National Green Tribunal (Madras Bench) is already stated to have been approached.”

The bench also noted that “we are of the view that no direction can be issued in the matter, except to observe that the state government may look into the issue urgently to take such steps as deemed proper in the given situation, especially keeping in mind that as per the petitioner there have been some recent developments in terms of registration of FIR and some action post-filing of the petition.” 

The petitioner had submitted that it is the most reasonable apprehension that MT BW Maple, the Iranian vessel, involved in the collision might flee from the territorial waters so that they can get away from the legal liabilities that may arise out of the collision and it would be difficult to prosecute or recover the costs if it moves out of jurisdiction. The plea had sought the court to direct the state, Coast Guard and Ennore Port to act against both the ships.