India's Got Latent row: SC orders Samay Raina, others to apologise on social media for ridiculing disabled persons

The Supreme Court on Monday directed social media influencers, including comedian Samay Raina, to issue a public apology on their podcasts and programmes after they were found ridiculing persons with disabilities.

Issuing a stern warning, the apex court said that any ridicule or derogatory portrayal of persons with disabilities will invite penalties under the law. The court directed the influencers to display their apology prominently on their platforms to acknowledge the offence caused.

The bench also asked the Centre to frame guidelines for social media platforms to curb speeches that offend or ridicule disabled persons, women, children, and senior citizens.


The case stems from a petition filed by the CURE SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) Foundation of India. In July, the Supreme Court had termed jokes made by Samay Raina and other comedians about persons with disabilities and those suffering from rare diseases as “disturbing,” adding that it would “scrutinise individual conduct minutely.”

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi had then directed the stand-up comics to respond to the plea, which highlighted insensitive jokes, and remain present in court at the next hearing.

Appearing for the foundation, Senior Advocate Aparajita Singh had argued that offensive expressions used by Raina and others amounted to “hate speech,” which did not deserve protection under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Taking strong objection to the remarks, the court had ordered that the comedians be impleaded for their “crass jokes.”

Case stems from ‘Latent’ row

Earlier, while hearing YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia’s case over controversial remarks on his podcast India’s Got Latent, the court had directed the Centre to consider bringing in guidelines to regulate vulgar and crass content on social media and OTT platforms.

“You have to have guidelines which are in conformity with constitutional principles, comprising both parts — freedom, where the limit of that freedom ends, and where duties start... we would like to invite open debate on that,” Justice Surya Kant had observed.

He made it clear that the court will have an open debate on the guidelines and also sought the views of all stakeholders.

On May 5, the Supreme Court had also summoned five influencers and stand-up comics, including Samay Raina, over offensive and derogatory remarks made against persons with disabilities. The court said that any speech which demeans a community or class of persons would be curtailed.