Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday ordered issue of notice to the State government and the police on a petition, which has sought initiation of criminal action against persons involved in an alleged unauthorised photo session related to a Kannada feature film Ananthu Vs Nusrath within the High Court premises.

A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice H.G. Ramesh and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar passed the order on a petition filed by N.P. Amrutesh, an advocate.

The petitioner has claimed that a photo session, for the film Ananthu Vs Nusrath, involving young actor Vinay Raj was conducted on the High Court premises on August 15, 2017. The photo session was also conducted in the library of the Bangalore Advocates’ Association, which is housed within the court building, the petitioner said.

The session was carried out by the film’s crew using photo and motion cameras, and other equipment without obtaining any permission and in breach of security as there was no permission taken from the court’s authority, the petitioner claimed.

The use of the court building for the photo sessions was in violation of the provisions of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, the petitioner contended, while pointing out that the law imposes restriction on the use of the name and pictorial representation of High Court.

The petitioner said that the police have not taken any action despite a complaint lodged by him on October 14, 2017.