New Delhi:

In a question that could have wider ramifications on the regulation of content online, the Supreme Court, while hearing YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia’s petition on the ‘India’s Got Latent’ row, has asked the Centre whether it is planning to take any steps to regulate “obscene” content like the show on YouTube and social media. 

During the hearing on Tuesday – in which it granted interim relief to Mr Allahbadia but not before severely rapping him for his comments and putting restrictions on him – the Supreme Court bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing in another case, whether the Centre would take steps to regulate “obscene” content like “India’s Got Latent” on websites like YouTube as well as social media platforms. 

Terming the issue a “serious” one, the bench asked the additional solicitor general and the solicitor general to assist the court during the next hearing on Mr Allahbadia’s petition.