Comedian Samay Raina, already facing scrutiny for a joke about parents and sex, has been implicated in a Supreme Court hearing regarding offensive jokes he made on his stand-up show, India’s Got Latent. The court, described as “really disturbed” by the allegations, will now consider the matter separately.
Supreme Court Questions Samay Raina Over Disability Jokes On India’s Got Latent
Justice Surya Kant stated, “We are really disturbed by the allegations. We place such instances on record… implead the concerned persons… suggest measures. Then we will see.” The Cure SMA Foundation of India filed an intervention application, highlighting the exorbitant cost of treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in India. Zolgensma, a one-time gene therapy, costs Rs 16 crore. The foundation argued that such high prices often force families to seek public fundraising, a process Raina allegedly mocked.
The foundation petitioned the court to mandate provisions in a proposed regulatory framework to “regulate any derogatory, denigrating, ableist, and/or belittling content against persons with disabilities, their diseases, and their treatment options.” The petition specifically targeted the online content of publishers, news outlets, and influencers. They demanded “the highest degree of sensitivity and compassion” when discussing SMA.
What Did Samay Raina?
Raina’s jokes, according to the foundation, were examples of numerous instances where people with disabilities are made objects of mockery. The foundation argued that free speech does not grant the right to make insensitive remarks on serious issues. Examples of Raina’s offensive comments include: joking about a two-month-old baby needing Rs 16 crore injection, asking a blind person which eye to look into, and telling someone else to look at God’s eyes. The petitioner condemned these as numerous instances… in which persons with disabilities… are objects of derision, pity, or public entertainment.
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Akankshya Mukherjee has a passion for creativity and drives to contribute as a valuable asset to the organisation. She belives to be hungry for learning new skills. She sees a potential growth in communications and content writing/reporting for her professional journey.
