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New Delhi: The Supreme Court stressed the need to maintain a balance between morality and freedom of expression while directing the Centre to keep this in mind while formulating guidelines for digital content. This follows controversies around YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia’s inappropriate comments.
The 31-year-old YouTuber had been temporarily suspended from shooting any shows. However, the court has now granted him permission to resume his podcast, The Ranveer Show, provided he gives an undertaking to uphold acceptable moral standards and ensure his content is suitable for all audiences.
Allahbadia, also known as The BeerBiceps Guy, faced public backlash last month over a controversial remark he made on the roast show India’s Got Latent. During an appearance on the show, hosted by comedian Samay Raina, he asked a contestant an extremely inappropriate question:
“Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life or join in once and stop it?”
The remark quickly went viral, triggering widespread criticism. Many social media users argued that digital platforms were normalizing vulgarity in the name of comedy. Multiple police complaints were filed against Allahbadia, Raina, and others associated with the show.
In response to the backlash, Allahbadia issued a public apology, admitting that comedy is not his strength and acknowledging that his comment was inappropriate. He posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) stating,
“I shouldn’t have said what I said on India’s Got Latent. I’m sorry.”
In a video message, he elaborated,
“My comment wasn’t just inappropriate—it wasn’t even funny. Comedy is not my forte, and I just want to apologize.”
He also addressed concerns from his audience, saying he had been flooded with questions about whether he intended to use his platform for such content.
“Obviously, I do not want to use it this way. I’m not here to justify or explain what happened—I’m just here to apologize. It was a lapse in judgment on my part, and it wasn’t cool,” he admitted.
His lawyer, Abhinav Chandrachud, appealed to the Supreme Court to lift the restriction on his show, emphasizing that it employs around 280 people.
Representing the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta described Allahbadia’s comments as not just vulgar but “perverse.” He remarked,
“I watched the show out of curiosity. Rudeness is one thing, vulgarity is another, but this was on another level. Even legal professionals like me and the Attorney General couldn’t watch it together. The judges couldn’t either. He should stay quiet for a while.”
Justice Surya Kant addressed the ongoing debate on free speech, stating,
“Every fundamental right comes with responsibilities and limitations.”
When the Solicitor General suggested the need for guidelines, Justice Kant clarified that the court was not advocating censorship but also could not allow a completely unregulated digital space.
“It’s not that we want a regime of censorship, but the platform also cannot be a free-for-all,” he said.
The Supreme Court also made it clear that offensive language does not equate to talent.
“There is a 75-year-old humorist who performs in a way that the whole family can enjoy. That is real talent. Using vulgar language is not,” Justice Kant remarked.
The court stressed the importance of establishing clear standards with input from various stakeholders.
“We need to assess what society is ready to accept and what should be regulated. Let’s involve the public, legal experts, and other stakeholders in this process,” the bench suggested.
Highlighting constitutional provisions, the court noted that reasonable restrictions can be imposed in the interest of public order and morality.
“The Constitution is a carefully drafted document, and we must respect the vision of its framers, as it represents the collective will of the Indian people,” the bench stated.
The court has invited the Solicitor General to propose measures that uphold free speech while ensuring moral boundaries are maintained. Any draft regulations should be made public for feedback from all stakeholders before finalizing any legal framework, the court added.
