Delhi HC orders Honey Singh, Badshah to take down Volume 1 song over obscene lyrics

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like The Delhi high court on Thursday ordered the immediate takedown of the song Volume 1 by singers Honey Singh and Badshah, released in 2006–07 under their collaboration “Mafia Mundeer”, across all platforms, observing that it is “grossly vulgar, patently obscene, and derogatory towards women, artistic values, and social norms.” The Delhi high court ordered the immediate takedown of the song Volume 1 by singers Honey Singh and Badshah, released in 2006–07 under their collaboration “Mafia Mundeer”, across all platforms.A bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, while hearing a petition filed by Hindu Shakti Dal seeking the song’s removal, observed that the lyrics were not merely offensive but were ex facie calculated to normalise the portrayal of women as objects of ridicule and sexual gratification. Directing the two singers, along with any other people claiming rights in the song, to take it down from all social media platforms, the court said that permitting the dissemination of such content online, including access by minors, cannot be justified under the guise of artistic freedom of speech. “This is one of the rare cases where the conscience of the court is shocked to its absolute core. It is one of those unfortunate instances where the court finds that the song is grossly vulgar, patently obscene, and derogatory towards women, artistic values, and social norms. The lyrics are not merely disrespectful or offensive but are ex facie calculated to normalise the treatment of women as objects of ridicule and sexual gratification,” the court order said. “Interim directions are required to be issued, as allowing dissemination of such content on online platforms, including access by minors, cannot be countenanced under the guise of artistic freedom of speech. No civilised society can permit such content to remain freely available or be monetised. Respondent Nos. 5 (Honey Singh) and 6 (Badshah), and any other persons claiming rights in the impugned obscene song(s), are directed to immediately take down the URLs hosting such content from social media platforms or any other online locations,” the order added. The bench observed that this was one of the rare instances where the conscience of the court was deeply shocked, noting that the song was also heard in chambers earlier in the morning, and that even its title was found to be so inappropriate and objectionable that it could not be reproduced in the order. It also issued notice to Honey Singh and Badshah and fixed May 7 as the next date of hearing. In its petition, Hindu Shakti Dal said that the song Volume 1 was uploaded on YouTube by various users under different handles, where it garnered millions of views. The plea further claimed that, over the years, Honey Singh and Badshah had denied performing the track. However, it alleged that verses of the song were performed during a concert held in Delhi on March 14. During the hearing, Google’s lawyer said that the URLs identified in the petition had been taken down and that details of the grievance redressal mechanism are publicly available.