The Madras High Court Wednesday stayed proceedings against Tamil film actress Khushboo in the lower courts, which were looking into complaints that she had allegedly violated social norms.

At least two formal complaints were lodged against her in the magistrate courts in Tiruvannamalai and Ariyalur districts of Tamil Nadu following her statements on pre-marital sex in a magazine in September.

The actress had said in the interview that it was fine for girls to indulge in pre-marital sex as long as they took precautions. She later justified her statement by saying that no educated man expected his partner to be a virgin.

Admitting Khushboo's petition and granting an interim stay of four weeks, Justice R. Banumathi also dispensed with her personal appearance in these courts.

The actress had Tuesday filed a petition in the high court to quash the complaints against her in the two courts.

Her lawyers pointed out that people "in the garb of social organisations and political parties" had filed private complaints in several lower courts, leading to an issuance of summons directing her to appear on the same day in two courts.

She, therefore, sought the operation of the summons to be stayed as the dates were overlapping.

Khushboo told the high court that "persons inimical to her name and fame" had filed the complaints though she had only expressed her personal opinion in the context of gender equality and the status of women in society.

Khushboo reiterated Wednesday that she did not have "any intention to insult or cause injuries to the feelings of any section of any specific community or to defame the traditions, culture and customs of the state".