LI Network
Published on:17 July 2023 at 14:28 IST
The Supreme Court has rejected a plea filed against stand-up comedian Anubhav Singh Bassi regarding his recent show ‘Bas Kar Bassi,’ which was alleged to have portrayed the judiciary in a negative light. A bench comprising of Justice SK Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia dismissed the plea while also rebuking the petitioner, advocate Farhat Warsi.
The court addressed the petitioner by stating, “Do you not have something better to do? And you claim to have been practicing law for 20 years? Dismissed. This is not a matter for Article 32.”
The court’s remarks highlighted its dismissal of the plea on the grounds that it did not fall within the scope of the constitutional provision granting individuals the right to move the Supreme Court for the enforcement of their fundamental rights.
The petitioner’s plea contended that Bassi’s latest stand-up show, available on Amazon Prime and titled “Bas Kar Bassi,” portrayed the judiciary and legal fraternity in a negative manner. The counsel representing the petitioner argued that the show defamed the judiciary, the legal profession, and lawyers as a whole.
However, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea, indicating that it did not find sufficient merit in the allegations made against Anubhav Singh Bassi. The court’s decision suggests that the comedy show’s content did not cross the line into legally actionable defamation or infringe upon the rights protected by the Constitution.
The court’s decision emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between freedom of expression and safeguarding the reputation and integrity of institutions. It highlights the court’s role in protecting individuals’ rights while also respecting the limits and standards prescribed by law.