In a major relief to actress Khushboo who was in the eye of a storm after her controversial remarks on pre-marital sex and Suhasini, who supported her colleague, the Madras high court has stayed defamatory proceedings against them in lower courts.

• Khushboo controversy: Your take

Justice T V Masilamani stayed further proceedings pending against Khushboo in a judicial magistrate's court in Vandavasi, giving relief to the actress as with this, all 19 defamation cases pending against her in various courts in the state, has been stayed.

Passing orders on a petition filed by Suhasini Maniratnam, who was caught in the controversy after she expressed support to Khushboo, the judge stayed two more defamatory proceedings against her in the Tiruchengode judicial magistrate court.

Tiruchengode Magistrate Thilagavathy, after taking on file private complaints by P R A Muthusamy of Manidha Urimai Kazhagam, had issued summons to Suhasini, directing her to appear before the court Tuesday.

Justice Masilamani stayed the proceedings and also dispensed with the personal appearance of the two actors in the court.