Comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina finds himself in the eye of a controversy once again, this time for allegedly mocking persons with disabilities in his videos. The Supreme Court declared on Monday that they were “deeply disturbed” by Raina’s comments on blind people, and on an infant suffering from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The comedian also commented on the INR 16 crore injection that is needed to treat the condition.
The Cure SMA Foundation had filed the application seeking regulation of free speech to curb mocking of disability. The court ordered the NGO’s senior advocate Aparajita Singh to list incidents of such comments being made on social media with transcripts, and suggest appropriate action.
“Unfortunately, the aforesaid video clips are only a drop in the bucket and there are numerous other instances where the media platforms have treated persons with disabilities (and their issues) as objects of derision, pity, or public entertainment,” the senior counsel for the NGO commented, reported Times of India. “It is humbly submitted that free speech does not entail within its scope the liberty to speak loosely on such serious issues and sliding such statements off as humour or satire.”
“This is very very serious issue,” said Justice Surya Kant who was sitting on the bench along with Justice Kothishwar Singh, according to LiveLaw. “We are really disturbed to see that. We would like [you] to place on record the instances also. If you have video-clippings along with transcript, bring them. Implead the concerned persons. Also suggest measures which according to youโฆThen we will see.”
During the hearing, the court also addressed Ranveer Allahbadia’s request for the release of his passport, which was confiscated in light of the India’s Got Latent row. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Maharashtra and Assam governmentsโwhere FIRs have been filed against Allahbadia for making crass comments about parental sexโinformed the court that Maharashtra Police have completed their probe and ready to file a chargesheet. Assam Police are waiting to interrogate another co-accused.
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