'Wild Karnataka' Documentary | Will Asks Netflix & Others To Contribute To 'Tiger Protection Fund', Says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday (January 25) asked the Karnataka High Court to defer the contempt proceedings against streaming platform Netlfix over the airing of "Wild Karnataka" documentary.

At the same time, the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud orally asked Netflix to contribute to the 'Tiger Protection Fund' and put an end to the dispute. CJI said that the bench will ask other parties also, BBC, Discovery India and the Producers also to contribute to the Fund and will fix an amount.

The CJI remarked, “Find some solution, make some contribution to the Tiger Protection Fund, Netflix has also made money on it, you should do something for the benefit of our wild as well”. 

"Make sure you come with some substantive offer," CJI told Netflix.

The bench was informed that the contemnors had given an apology in the High Court, however, the amount for the contribution that was offered was not adequate in relation to the profits generated out of streaming/distributing the documentary film. The film was sold by the makers to Icon Films Limited for 1 lac 50 thousand pounds which Icon Films resold to different broadcasters including Netflix.

Netflix was represented by Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya, while Senior Advocate Balaji Srinivasan appeared for the respondents (original contemnors)

The bench tagged the matter with a similar pending case of Icon Films Limited in which the Court has already issued notice. 

Background

Previously, the Supreme Court issued notice in a petition filed by Icon Films Limited against a decision of the Karnataka High Court to frame charges in the 'Wild Karnataka' contempt case, besides urging the high court to defer the contempt proceedings until after the next date of hearing, scheduled to be held on February 9.

This development follows the Karnataka High Court's decision to frame charges against several individuals and entities involved in the documentary 'Wild Karnataka', including filmmakers Sarath Champati, Kalyan Varma, and Amoghavarhaa JS, as well as representatives of broadcasters Discovery India, BBC United Kingdom, and Netflix for allegedly violating the court's June 2021 interim order, in response to a contempt petition filed by Ravindra N Redkar and Ullash Kumar RK. They had earlier filed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition against the airing of the documentary. The duo have alleged that that the filmmakers, associated firms, and streaming platforms have violated the court's 2021 order, which restrained the use, broadcast, and distribution of the film and its raw footage as an interim measure.

The PIL asserted that the documentary, intended for non-profit purposes to promote conservation and education, was commercially sold for profit without the approval of the Karnataka forest department. The petitioners claimed that the film had been distributed globally without remitting the required funds to the Tiger Conservation Foundation, as mandated by the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2014.

In November 2021, the petitioners filed a petition alleging contempt of court. They pointed out that despite the high court's order, the film's footage was aired on Discovery channel and later on BBC and Netflix. During earlier hearing, Icon Films reportedly offered to pay £15,000 to the Tiger Conservation Foundation, and the court suggested that other accused consider similar contributions under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations. Although some other accused submitted their proposal to donate to the TCF, maintaining that the interim order had been violated, the Karnataka High Court framed charges against the contemnors.

Case Details

Icon Films Limited v. Ravindra N Redkar & Ors. | Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 1460 of 2024

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