Dignity trumps free speech: SC

{ REMARKS AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

- Utkarsh Anand

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asserted that an individual's right to life and dignity must prevail over another's right to free speech, urging the Union government to propose a set of balanced regulatory guidelines to curb obscenity and offensive content on social media and YouTube without crossing into censorship.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, which is hearing a batch of petitions concerning podcasters and YouTubers, including Ranveer Allahbadia and comedian Samay Raina, emphasised that any proposed regulatory framework must define not just the boundaries of free speech but also the obligations that accompany it.