The Delhi High Court on Wednesday permitted the withdrawal of a Public Interest Litigation that raised concerns over the lyrics of the song Maniac, produced by Yo Yo Honey Singh Productions.
A bench comprising Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela declined to entertain the petition and advised the petitioner to seek other legal remedies. The court suggested that if the matter involved obscenity, the appropriate step would be to file an FIR.
During the proceedings, the bench took exception to the language used by the petitioner’s counsel, particularly the phrase “Bhojpuri vulgarity.” The judges emphasized that vulgarity should not be regionalized, stating, “vulgarity is vulgarity,” irrespective of its origin.
PIL Challenges Lyrics Of ‘Maniac’ Song
The PIL, filed by petitioner Lavkush Kumar through Advocate Kumar Utkarsh, argued that the song promotes explicit sexualization and uses double entendre, portraying women solely as objects of sexual desire. It also criticized the use of the Bhojpuri language in the song, alleging that it normalizes vulgarity and undermines the principles of women’s empowerment.
The plea claimed that the language and gestures in the song were obscene, appealing to lascivious interests, and potentially corrupting the minds of youth and others in society. The petition also expressed concern about the impact of such content, particularly in Bihar, where Bhojpuri music has a significant influence on the youth.
Concerns Over Social Impact & Women’s Empowerment
The petition highlighted how the proliferation of vulgar and sexually explicit content in Bhojpuri songs, including Maniac, is said to normalize the objectification of women and derogatory language. This trend is believed to foster a culture of misogyny, sexism, and disrespect towards women, eroding societal values. It warned that such media content exposes young people, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, to distorted views on gender relations, consent, and respect, ultimately undermining women’s dignity and reinforcing harmful stereotypes.
While acknowledging that freedom of speech is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, the petition stressed the need to balance individual freedoms with public decency and morality, as stipulated under Article 19(2).
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