The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed 22 criminal cases registered against Tamil actress Khushboo following complaints against her for making a controversial statement endorsing pre-marital sex and live-in relationships.
A bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan scrapped the cases saying her statement was her personal view and the Constitution entitled her to express it as well.
The bench�s judgment came on Khushboo�s petition challenging the 2008 ruling of Madras High Court that had dismissed her plea to scrap the various criminal cases against her.
Khushboo�s counsel Pinky Anand said, �It�s a path-breaking judgment on the subject of freedom of opinion, which is one of the most important bulwarks of democracy. In this case it is the vindication of a harassed woman fight against injustice.�
Reacting to the verdict, Khushboo (39) said, �If you are honest and if you are fighting for justice, then whatever political or money power anybody has, there is a lot to protect the normal citizen and my case has proved it.� She said she was grateful to the Supreme Court that took into account the entire case including the complete transcripts of her interview.
Khushboo had in her interviews said pre-marital sex wasn�t a taboo and it was fine for girls to indulge in the relationship after taking precautions to keep unwarranted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases at bay.