Supreme Court summons comedian Raina & 4 others over demeaning PWDs

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Monday frowned upon the rampant abuse of freedom of speech to make fun of physical disabilities of people and summoned comedian Samay Raina and four other 'influencers' after a PIL accused them of undermining the dignity of physically challenged people in their shows on online platforms.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, hearing the PIL by 'Cure SMA Foundation', ordered the Mumbai Police commissioner to serve notices on Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar aka Sonali Aditya Desai and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar and ensure that they are present before the apex court on the next date of hearing. "If they fail to appear, coercive steps will be taken," the bench warned.

The bench said while Parliament and courts attempt to assimilate these sections of people in the social mainstream, these kind of casual yet reprehensible remarks by influencers on social media platforms ridiculing physical disability derail the efforts and objectifies disability.

"We want to curtail this kind of abuse of free speech," Justice Kant said and asked the NGO to suggest remedial as well as punitive measures. The bench sought assistance of attorney general R Venkataramani in framing guidelines for digital broadcasters . The SC also issued notices to the Union govt and ministries of electronics and information technology, social justice and empowerment as well as two Delhi-based regulators - News Broadcasters and Digital Association and Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation.

Under the existing law, punitive measures can be taken against those who ridicule physical disability, the bench said. Appearing for the NGO, senior advocate Aparajita Singh said she was not against free speech but reasonable restrictions must, as the Constitution provides, protect the dignity of every individual.