NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up comedian Samay Raina and YouTubers Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani for failing to comply with its earlier directions, observing that they are self-styled youth icons.A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana made the observation after being informed that Raina had not invited persons with disabilities to his show in compliance with its earlier order.“We have no reason to doubt that Samay Raina has taken the court for a ride. He is in brazen violation of statements/ undertakings given before this court. The misconduct is sought to be compounded by stating that a compliance affidavit was filed yesterday, however, no affidavit has been filed,” the bench said.The Chief Justice remarked that they appeared to believe that staying outside the country placed them beyond the court’s jurisdiction.“Let them suffer now. If this is not arrogance, then we have to change the Oxford dictionary also,” the bench added.
Row over remarks on SMA
The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by the Cure SMA India Foundation, which alleged that Raina made insensitive remarks about the high cost of treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and ridiculed a person with the condition.During the hearing, senior advocate Aparajita Singh, appearing for the organisation, told the court that Raina had never contacted the foundation to invite its members to any of his shows.The plea also referred to jokes made by “India’s Got Latent” host Samay Raina and social media influencers Vipun Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar.Highlighting the need for stronger legal safeguards to protect the dignity of persons with disabilities, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to consider enacting a law to make derogatory remarks mocking persons with disabilities and rare genetic disorders a penal offence, on the lines of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.Asking them to be mindful of their conduct in future, the bench directed Raina and the other comedians to hold two programmes or shows every month highlighting the success stories of persons with disabilities (PwDs) to raise funds for the treatment of persons with disabilities, particularly those suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
