On November 22, a Karnataka Court granted an interim stay on the distribution and sale of a book titled “Tipu Nija Kanasugalu” (Real Dreams of Tipu), on a plea, filed by former Chairman of the District Waqf Board Committee BS Rafiulla.
The petition claimed that the book contained wrong information about Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century Islamic ruler of the erstwhile Mysore province. The plea also contended that the book’s publication would cause unrest and communal disharmony, disturbing the public peace at large. The petitioner also claimed that the word “turukaru“ used in the book is a derogatory remark against the Muslim community.
“The Defendant No.1 to 3 and the persons and the agents claiming through or under them are restrained by way of temporary injunction from distributing and also selling including on-line platform, the book by name “Tippu Nija Kanasugalu” written in Kannada language,” the Additional City Civil and Sessions Court said in its order.
“This order of injunction will not come in the way of the defendant No.1 to 3 from printing the said books at their risk and storing the books which are already printed,” the Court further said.
Responding to the petitioner’s claim of wrong information on Tipu, the Court said “If the contents of the play are false and it contains false information about Tipu Sultan, and if the same are distributed, it would cause irreparable loss to the plaintiff and there are chances of breach of communal peace and harmony and there is a danger to the public peace.”
“If the book is circulated pending the appearance of the defendants, the purpose of the application itself would be defeated. It is common knowledge that controversial books sell like hotcakes. Therefore, at this stage the balance of convenience is in favour of the plaintiff in granting the order of injunction,” the Court added.
The Court in its further order has issued emergent notices to the three respondents and adjourned the hearing of the case to December 3.
Muslim groups had earlier staged protests against the book.
