Samay Raina (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday gave major relief to comedian Samay Raina and four others by quashing all FIRs registered against them over alleged insensitive remarks about persons with disabilities during the comedy show ‘India’s Got Latent’.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, passed the order after noting that the comedians had followed the court’s directions to conduct awareness programmes and support initiatives for persons with disabilities.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court acknowledged the efforts made by Samay Raina and others after the controversy.
The bench observed that genuine efforts in a positive direction can bring meaningful change. The court said that if young people take responsibility and work towards constructive outcomes, it can lead to positive results.
The remarks came after the comedians participated in programmes aimed at spreading awareness about the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
Apart from Samay Raina, the relief has also been extended to Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar.
The Supreme Court closed the criminal proceedings against these individuals while keeping the larger issue of online content regulation open for further consideration.
The controversy erupted after an episode of ‘India’s Got Latent’ faced criticism over jokes and comments allegedly targeting persons with disabilities.
Following complaints from several individuals and organisations, multiple FIRs were registered against those associated with the show.
The matter reached the Supreme Court, which examined concerns related to offensive content, freedom of expression and the need to maintain sensitivity towards vulnerable groups.
During earlier hearings, the Supreme Court had directed Samay Raina and others to undertake awareness activities and contribute towards causes related to persons with disabilities.
The court considered their compliance with these directions while deciding on the FIRs.
Although the cases against Samay Raina and others have been closed, the Supreme Court said it will continue examining broader issues related to online content, accountability and safeguards against insensitive material.
The case has once again highlighted the ongoing debate between creative freedom, comedy, social responsibility and respect for every section of society.
