Ranveeer Allahabadia Case : Supreme Court Urges Union To Draft Regulations Against Vulgarity In Online Media

The Supreme Court on Monday (March 3) expanded the scope of the Ranveer Allahabadia case to deliberate upon the need for a mechanism to regulate vulgar content in YouTube and other online media.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice NK Singh urged the Union Government to come out with a draft regulation, which can be placed in the public domain to invite suggestions from the stakeholders.

The bench observed in its order :

"Learned Attorney General for India and learned Solicitor General of India are present in Court. They submit that in order to prevent the broadcasting or airing of the programmes, which are offensive to well-known moral standards of our society, some regulatory measures may be required. We have suggested learned Solicitor General of India to deliberate upon and draft such regulatory proposal which may not encroach upon the Fundamental Right of free speech and expression but, at the same time, which is effective enough to ensure the reasonable restrictions within the meaning of Article 19(2) of the Constitution. The draft regulatory measures, in this regard, can then be brought in public domain to invite suggestions from all the stakeholders before taking any legislative or judicial measures in this regard. For this purpose, we are inclined to extend the scope of these proceedings."

The crucial development happened in the petition filed by YouTuber & Podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia against the multiple FIRs filed for the offence of obscenity over the comments made by him in the "India's Got Latent" show. Two weeks ago, while issuing notice on the petition, the Court had expressed strong disapproval of the nature of language used in the show and impressed upon the Union Government the need to have a regulatory measure.

Today also, the bench raised the issue. Justice Surya Kant said that there was a need for a regulatory measure which does not lead to "censorship."

"We don't want any regulatory regime which leads to censorship...but it can't be a free for all platform. Just because you have commercial interests, it cannot be that you can say anything. See the quality of humor he has...humor is something the entire family can enjoy, nobody feels embarrassed. Using all filthy language is not talent," Justice Surya Kant said.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta concurred with the bench's view. He said that a methodology was required to be laid down, which does not unreasonably impinge on someone's freedom of expression but at the same time preserve the standards of decency and morality.

"Free expression should be protected but vulgarity and perversity should not reach our children," SG said. He added that if a person has to use vulgarity to make someone laugh, it only means that he is not a good comedian.

Also from the hearing - India's Got Latent Row | Supreme Court Allows Ranveer Allahabadia To Resume His Show With Standards Of 'Decency & Morality'

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