The Supreme Court has taken a b stance against comedian Samay Raina and other YouTubers for their controversial comments. Even with the increased freedom of digital content, the court clarified that offensive public remarks cannot be hidden under the guise of ‘freedom of expression.’
What happened?
Comedian Samay Raina, along with YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadi, made offensive comments about parental relationships during Raina's ‘India’s Got Latent’ show, sparking intense social media backlash. The controversy reached Parliament, leading to numerous complaints filed. The Supreme Court took the matter seriously and bly condemned the actions during Monday's hearing.
The Supreme Court’s Stern Warning
During the hearing, Justice Suryakant expressed anger, stating, "Today's youth consider themselves extremely intelligent, but they must understand that taking this court's authority lightly can have serious consequences." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that Raina had mocked the incident from abroad. Justice Suryakant responded sharply, "We know how to deal with such people. Maintain decorum, or be prepared to face the consequences."
Raina and Other YouTubers Under Scrutiny
Cases were also filed against Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, and Apurva Makhija alongside Samay Raina. The controversial episode was removed from YouTube, and Raina announced the deletion of all related videos from his channel. Ranveer Allahabadi also publicly apologized, although the Supreme Court temporarily banned him from shooting his show.
However, during Monday's hearing, the Supreme Court allowed Ranveer Allahabadi to resume his podcast, ‘The Ranveer Show.’ The court directed the central government to create clear guidelines for digital content to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Supreme Court also clarified that the ‘freedom of expression’ guaranteed by the Constitution is not unlimited. The court stated that the unchecked comments prevalent in digital media can damage the moral fabric of society, necessitating a balance between freedom of expression and ethics.
