New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued a strong directive to curb offensive content on social media, emphasizing respect for the rights of specially-abled individuals, women, children, and the elderly. The apex court warned comedians and content creators against making derogatory jokes that humiliate or harass vulnerable groups, instructing authorities to take appropriate action.
The ruling followed a petition by SMA Cure Foundation, which challenged objectionable remarks made by stand-up comedians and content creators, including Sumit Raina, Vipin Goyal, Ranveer Allahbadia, Balraj Paranjit Singh Ghai, Sonali Takker, and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar. The court ordered these individuals to issue public apologies for offensive content related to specially-abled persons.
During the hearing, the bench, led by Justice J.K. Maheshwari, underscored that while humor is an essential part of life, it should not ridicule or demean others. The court stressed the need to protect the dignity of all sections of society and noted that attacks on one group today could target another tomorrow. It also directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to draft comprehensive guidelines for social media platforms, in consultation with the National Board for Welfare of Specially-Abled Persons (NBDSA), to prevent misuse of digital platforms. The Supreme Court warned that violations of these guidelines could attract penalties.