Can't Issue Moral Guidelines to Regulate Jokes on Sikhs: SC

File photo of the Supreme Court of India building. PTI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday clarified that the court cannot issue moral guidelines to regulate individuals over cracking jokes on Sikh community.

The court made the observation while hearing a plea against jokes on Sikhs.

However, the court will pass an order in the case on March 27.

Also Read: Can Sikhs Ever Avoid Being the Butt of Jokes?

In October 2015, the “Santa Banta” jokes came under the lens of the Supreme Court which agreed to hear a PIL seeking direction to ban websites displaying cracks on Sardars and projecting them in poor light.

“This (Sikh) community is known for great sense of humour and they also enjoy such jokes. You must have gone through the jokes of Khushwant Singh…This is only an amusement. Why do you want it to be stopped?…Prepare your case well. We will hear you” a bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and V Gopala Gowda had said.

Also Read: ‘Santa Banta’ jokes under Supreme Court scanner

A woman lawyer Harvinder Chowdhary had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) who argued there are more than 5,000 websites which display jokes on sardars projecting the members of the community in poor light.

Chowdhury had sought direction to Telecom Ministry to filter websites which target the Sikh community as it is violative of sections 153A and 153B of the Indian Penal Code.

“All the jokes relating to Sikh community should be stopped. My children are humiliated and feel embarrassed and they don’t want to suffix Singh and Kaur after their name,” Chowdhury had contended.

(With agency inputs)