metro india news  I new delhi :

The Supreme Court on Monday granted an interim stay on giving prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi MS Subbulakshmi award to well known Carnatic singer, composer, critic TM Krishna. The court directed that the renowned Carnatic musician must not be recognised as its recipient till a petition - filed by the legendary singer's grandson, V Srinivasan, alleging Mr Krishna had maligned her image in articles in mainstream publications - be fully heard and dismissed.

Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice SVN Bhatti then issued notice to the respondents, saying, "Till we are clear, awardee cannot have award in name of person he is said to have disrespected".

In its interim order, the Supreme Court said it remains "mindful of the respect and honour" commanded by the memory of the late symbol of Carnatic music. The court also acknowledged that the articles penned by TM Krishna were "his way of conveying respect for singer”. However, it also noted the petitioner's claim that "the words used... are not in good taste".

"As the award has been already awarded... we deem it appropriate to say Defendant TM Krishna should not be recognised as a recipient of the Sangita Kalanidhi MS Subbulakshmi Award... and is also restrained from projecting himself as a recipient..." the court ruled for now.

The court also said its order should not be seen as a comment on TM Krishna's musical abilities or as questioning the decision of those who conferred the award, including The Music Academy in Chennai, which is a 96-year landmark institution in the field of Carnatic music.

The petitioner, MS Subbulakshmi's grandson, has alleged that TM Krishna - whose revolutionary ideas about taking the esoteric art to the masses has ruffled feathers - had authored articles maligning his grandmother and that he had made "misogynistic comments..."