‘Poor people have serious problems to deal with’; Kerala HC makes sharp observation on AMMA disputes

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court made a sharp observation about the ongoing disputes within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), saying it had reached a point where a special court would have to be set up just to resolve their issues. The observation came while hearing actor Lakshmipriya's petition seeking to quash a case registered against her based on a complaint by actor Ansiba Hassan.

“Poor people have serious problems in their lives, yet we have to spend time resolving their disputes,” the court observed.

Justice Jobin Sebastian issued notice to Ansiba on Lakshmipriya's petition and posted the case for hearing after three weeks.

The Palarivattom police had recently registered a case against Lakshmipriya based on Ansiba Hassan's complaint alleging that the actor had made defamatory remarks against her. The case was registered following an order from the Ernakulam Magistrate Court.

Ansiba had initially approached the Palarivattom police alleging that Lakshmipriya had made defamatory and obscene remarks about her in an interview on a YouTube channel. The police had not initially registered a case.

Ansiba then approached the Magistrate Court, but did not receive a favourable order. She subsequently moved the High Court, which directed the Magistrate Court to reconsider the complaint and take a decision.

The case against Lakshmipriya was registered under a provision of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) that carries a punishment of up to two years in prison and a fine.

Justice Jobin Sebastian had earlier set aside the Magistrate Court's order, observing that the complaint had not been properly considered before concluding that no sufficient offence had been made out. Following this, the Ernakulam Magistrate Court directed the police to register a case based on Ansiba's complaint.