Nakkeeran expresses regret for write-up

CHENNAI: The First Bench of the Madras High Court comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and TS Sivagnanam on Thursday adjourned a contempt petition by Chief Minsiter J Jayalalithaa against Nakkheeran editor RR Gopal following expression of regret by the magazine.In her petition, Jayalalithaa said the respondents - RR Gopal and associate editor A Kamaraj - were in the habit of publishing false and defamatory articles against her knowing fully well that they were per se false.In view of such consistent and contumacious conduct, she had filed a suit (CS 477 of 2003) for damages, besides seeking permanent injunction against publishing libellous articles against her.An interim injunction was given by the court restraining Nakkheeran from publishing defamatory content.Subsequently, the magazine was directed by the court in its order dated February 6, 2006, to elicit the views of the AIADMK chief before publishing articles concerning her personal life. Quoting the libellous material published by Nakkheeran in its January 7-10, 2012 issue, the CM argued that it was in violation of the court order. Her comments were not solicited on the article which concerned her personal life.After hearing arguments of both sides, the bench said that the respondent-counsel PT Perumal had submitted that the respondents had realised their mistake. “He is publishing a regret message in the cover page of the next issue and will also withdraw the allegations made,” the Bench noted.