HC clears way for MS award to TM Krishna

BY setting aside an injunction order of a single judge on the Sangita Kalanidhi MS Subbulakshmi award, instituted by The Hindu newspaper, a division bench of the Madras High Court on Friday cleared the legal hurdle to present the award to popular musician TM Krishna.

- R SIVAKUMAR

The prestigious award, carrying a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, will be conferred on Krishna on January 1 at the Music Academy, a press release from the academy said.

The bench of Justices SS Sundar and P Dhanabal passed the order on appeals filed by the Music Academy, The Hindu Group (THG) Publishing Pvt Ltd and The Hindu daily against the single judge order on a suit filed by V Shrinivasan, grandson of Subbulakshmi.

"Conferment of an award by an Organisation or a Trust in memory of a legend to an individual is a recognition of his achievement and is not prohibited in law. In this case, except the recitals of the will expressing her desire, no other source is alleged," the court said.

"EVEN though we're not agreeing, assuming that the desire of Dr MS Subbulakshmi was that no award shall be conferred on anyone in her name or in memory of her, how is this enforceable if conferment of award is not by way of exploiting her personality but by way of honouring or recognising her achievements," asked the bench.