The Supreme Court on Tuesday recorded the personal appearance of five social media influencers, including comedian and “India’s Got Latent” host Samay Raina, in connection with a petition accusing them of mocking individuals suffering from disabilities, including the rare Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed the influencers to file their replies within two weeks and warned that no further extensions would be granted. The court made it clear that failure to appear in person on the next hearing will be viewed seriously.
One of the influencers, Sonali Thakkar alias Sonali Aditya Desai, was granted an exemption from physical appearance due to a medical condition and allowed to attend the next hearing virtually.
The case stems from a plea that alleged the group made derogatory remarks against persons with disabilities during an online show, specifically targeting those suffering from SMA, a genetic disorder that affects muscle movement, and other disabilities.
On May 5, the top court had directed the influencers to appear before it or face coercive action. The matter has since attracted public attention, especially in the context of increasing concerns over insensitive content on social media platforms.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the bench also asked Attorney General R Venkataramani to draft comprehensive social media guidelines that strike a balance between the fundamental right to free speech and the rights and dignity of others. “Freedom of one person should not violate the rights of others,” the court noted, underlining that enforceability of such guidelines remains a significant challenge.
The case will be taken up next after the influencers file their replies.
