‘Maintain standards of decency’: Supreme Court allows Ranveer Allahbadia to resume his podcast
Hearing Ranveer Allahbadia’s plea seeking the consolidation of all FIRs against him over controversial comments made during the YouTube show ‘India’s Got Latent’, the top court had granted him protection from arrest on Feb 18.
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Allahbadia's counsel Abhinav Chandrachud highlighted that the podcaster has 280 employees and this is his source of livelihood. (Photo: X/ @BeerBicepsGuy)The Supreme Court on Monday modified its February 18 direction barring YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia from airing any shows till further orders and allowed him to resume his show subject to an undertaking that he would maintain standards of decency and morality.
“Subject to the petitioner furnishing an undertaking to the effect that his podcast shows will maintain the desired standards of decency and morality so that viewers of any age group can watch, the petitioner is allowed to resume the Ranveer Show,” a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N K Singh said.
Hearing Allahbadia’s plea seeking the consolidation of all FIRs registered against him over his controversial comments made during the YouTube show ‘India’s Got Latent’, the court had on February 18 issued notice and granted him protection from arrest. It also directed that he “or his associates shall not air any show on YouTube or any other audio/video visual mode of communication till further orders.”
On Monday, Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, appearing for Allahbadia, said halting the shows will affect the 31-year-old’s livelihood. He said the court may direct that he shall not utter one more profane word.
The counsel added that Allahbadia has 280 employees and this is his source of livelihood. “I understand he has no sense of humour, but he interviews personalities – sportspersons, politicians, spiritual leaders. That’s how he earns livelihood. He won’t be able to afford legal representation for himself eventually if this condition continues,” he said.
The bench accepted the request and modified the condition. It also stated that the interim protection from arrest will continue till further orders.
The court asked Allahbadia to cooperate with the investigation in the cases. It also expanded the scope of the matter to ensure that a regulatory regime, which does not lead to censorship, is put in place for shows with objectionable content.
“With regard to telecast or airing of programmes which are not acceptable in terms of known moral standards of our society, some regulatory measures may be required. We have requested the learned Solicitor General to suggest some measures which are effective to ensure the parameters of fundamental rights as delineated in Article 19. Any draft regulatory measure in this regard can then be put in public domain to invite suggestions from stakeholders…,” the bench said.
“We don’t want any regulatory regime which leads to censorship…but it can’t be free for all. See the quality of humour he has…humour is something the entire family can enjoy, nobody feels embarrassed. Using all filthy language is not talent,” Justice Kant remarked orally.
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