NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC on Thursday ordered the removal of rappers Honey Singh and Badshah’s controversial song “Volume 1” from all social media and music streaming platforms, observing that the “conscience of the court is shaken to the core” and terming it “deeply derogatory and obscene”.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav directed a blanket ban on the song, stating that even fragments of it or its lyrics should not be allowed in the public domain. “In whatever form this song is available on social media platforms, it has to be taken down. That is clearly the opinion. No one can deny this. We cannot allow even the slightest part of it to remain on social media,” the judge said.
The judge noted that he had personally listened to the song in his chambers and described it as one of the rare cases where the “conscience of the court is shocked to its absolute core”.
“This is one of those unfortunate instances where the court finds that the song is obscene, deeply derogatory towards women, and devoid of any artistic or social value. No civilised society can permit such content to remain on digital platforms.
The lyrics are not only offensive but are ex facie dehumanising and attempt to normalise the treatment of women as objects of ridicule and sexual gratification,” the judge said. The court also directed Singh and Badshah to remove the song from their social media handles and other platforms, noting that Singh had recently performed portions of it at a concert.
The order came while hearing a petition filed by Hindu Shakti Dal, which alleged that the song’s content was objectionable, vulgar, and derogatory towards women, and that its lyrics could provoke violence.
The court said the petitioner may bring any URLs containing the song to the notice of authorities, directing that immediate steps be taken to block such content. It granted liberty to compile and submit a list of links to the Union government for prompt action.
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