India’s Got Latent row: Supreme Court directs Samay Raina, Ranveer Allahbadia to apologise; asks Centre to frame guidelines | India News
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday directed five social media influencers, including India’s Got Latent host Samay Raina, to issue a public apology for mocking persons with disabilities. The apex court observed that freedom of speech and expression can’t be applicable to commercial speech hurting sentiments of other community.Guidelines for social media regulations shouldn’t be knee jerk reaction but based on broad parameters having views of all stakeholders, the SC observed, as reported by PTI.The top court also said that it will impose penalties on social media influencers for targeting persons with disabilities.According to LiveLaw, counsel for the respondents undertook that each of them would display an apology on their YouTube channels and podcasts and also file affidavits confirming compliance. The court said their personal appearance was dispensed with for now, provided they adhered to this undertaking. The bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi also said the question of penalty or costs would be decided later.During the hearing, Justice Kant remarked, “There should be a balance of rights and duties”. Earlier, the court had directed the influencers, including Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar and Nishant Tanwar, to appear in person over allegations of ridiculing people with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and blindness. Their conduct, the court observed, was “damaging” and “demoralising,” stressing that freedom of speech under Article 19 cannot override the right to dignity under Article 21.
