“Do Not Approve Such Conduct”: Madras HC Asks Youtuber Savukku Shankar For Statement On How He Will Conduct Himself In Future

The vacation bench of Justice GR Swaminathan and Justice PB Balajj were critical of Shankar's statement and said that they did not approve of such conduct.

“Dignity of women is paramount. He has crossed a limit while making the statements. He had even made disparaging remarks against the Chief Minister. Therefore, there has to be a list of don'ts. We need to know how he will carry himself in the future as a Youtuber,” the bench orally remarked.

The court was hearing two petitions filed by Shankar's mother Kamala, challenging his detention under the TN Detention Act and also seeking an inquiry by the National Human Rights Commission into the alleged custodial violence meted out by him.

Shankar was arrested by the Coimbatore police on May 4 based on a complaint by a woman journalist for making defamatory remarks against women police officers and was remanded to judicial custody. Shankar has been charged with offenses under Sections 294 (b), 509, 354D, and 506 of the IPC read with Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Harassment of Woman (Prevention) Act and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.

Kamala had contended that Shankar was subjected to custodial violence which had seriously affected his health and since there was involvement of high-ranking officials, it would be appropriate for the NHRC to inquire into the same. Alleging human rights violations, Kamala also submitted that there was total apathy towards Shankar and did not give him proper medical care.

In her second petition challenging his detention, Kamala alleged that the authorities had mechanically passed the detention order without any application of mind which was violative of Articles 21 and 22 of the constitution. She added that although the order states that Shankar's acts were prejudicial to the maintenance of public order, it was a non-speaking order and was devoid of cogent reasons.