COUrTInG CenSUre

Recently, the Supreme Court snubbed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa for filing defamation cases and not being able to take criticism on her workings and policy. It would be interesting to note that the CM has filed as many as 213 defamation cases in the last five years, of which 55 were against the media, 85 against her main political rival, the DMK, and 48 cases against DMDK leader Vijayakanth, who eventually moved court on this. What were the charges against the media? Well, it seems that the CM took offence to a national newspaper that opined her response to the Chennai flood was “slow”. Another publication was sued because it quoted Vijayakanth of alleging that the CM had retreated to her bungalow in Ooty to “take rest”, thereby hinting that she was unwell. Two news anchors have also been sued for reading out stories that went against the government. And then there is of course BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, her bête-noir, who has been sued for his tweets alleging that Jayaconfidante Sasikala had “personal interest” in ensuring boats seized bySri Lankan navy were not released.