On Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed criminal proceedings against comedian Samay Raina and four other comedians related to insensitive comments made during the show ‘India’s Got Latent.’ The court acknowledged their subsequent initiatives to organize events aimed at raising awareness and funds for individuals affected by spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
The respondents have now expressed their willingness to invite persons suffering from SMA and provide financial support, the court noted. The respondents and the NGO had discussed the structure and material for programmes aimed at celebrating the lives of SMA warriors. The respondents had expressed gratitude for the foundation’s guidance and were in the process of obtaining consent from SMA warriors for their participation, the court noted.
Because of logistical difficulties, four further shows had been planned for fundraising, but could not be organised with the participation of persons with disabilities.
The bench also appreciated the “constructive conversation” that had taken place between the comedians and the Cure SMA Foundation, which had approached the court over the content concerning persons with disabilities. The proceedings had arisen in the larger controversy surrounding the online show “India’s Got Latent”, which had earlier led the Supreme Court to examine the need for safeguards governing online content, and the balance between freedom of speech and the right of individuals and sections of society to live with dignity.
The court had previously asked Attorney General R Venkataramani to assist it on the broader question of framing guidelines to ensure that freedom of speech and expression does not infringe the right of others to live with dignity.
The court, however, kept the broader issue arising from the case alive, saying it would consider suggestions from persons with disabilities and issue appropriate directions on ensuring greater sensitivity and safeguards in online content. The event also involved donations to organisations working for the cause. The court recorded that the five respondents organised a chess tournament for persons with disabilities from March 14 to 16 this year, which received widespread media coverage and generated awareness about organisations working for persons with disabilities, including SMA.
