In a landmark order reinforcing dignity and respect for persons with disabilities, the Supreme Court of India has directed five social media influencers to issue a public apology for mocking individuals with disabilities and those suffering from rare genetic disorders in their YouTube show “Indian Gauntlet”.
The apex court, expressing strong disapproval of their conduct, made it clear that freedom of speech cannot be used as a shield to demean or ridicule vulnerable sections of society.
Court’s Stern Message: Sensitivity Must Prevail Over Satire
A bench of the Supreme Court, hearing a plea against the offensive content, noted that these influencers had crossed all limits of decency by turning individuals with disabilities into subjects of mockery. The court stressed that mockery is not comedy and that freedom of expression carries a responsibility to uphold dignity.
“Speech must reflect a higher level of sensitivity than the threshold of criminality,” the bench observed, emphasizing that social media platforms cannot be a lawless space for harmful and humiliating content.
Influencers Summoned and Warned of Monetary Penalties
The five influencers — Samay Raina, Vipun Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar alias Sonali, Aditya Desai, and Nishant Jagdeesh Tanwar — were earlier summoned to appear before the court on July 15.
During the proceedings, the court asked the influencers to come prepared to disclose how much penalty they are willing to pay apart from issuing their public apologies. Justice Surya Kant remarked that such acts not only humiliate but also further marginalize persons with disabilities, thereby making strict measures necessary.
Protecting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
This decision marks a strong stance by the judiciary in defense of the dignity and rights of differently-abled individuals. The court highlighted that Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to free speech, does not grant immunity for speech that violates basic human dignity or promotes discrimination.
By calling for both apologies and financial penalties, the court has sent a clear message that the digital space must be governed by ethical responsibility and social conscience, especially when the content targets marginalized communities.
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