Patna : The Patna High Court has disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by actor and filmmaker Neetu Chandra, which called for a ban on obscene and derogatory content in Bhojpuri songs—particularly the track Maniac by artist Yo Yo Honey Singh (Hirdesh Singh).
A division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar directed the petitioner to present a formal representation to the state government under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act. The court also instructed the Bihar government to take appropriate action in accordance with the law.
In an earlier hearing, the court had questioned the nature of the PIL and asked the central government to clarify its stance, commenting that the matter might not qualify as a typical public interest issue. However, it acknowledged the concerns raised over the content of the song.
In her petition, Chandra argued that lyrics in Maniac objectify women, depict them as commodities, and use sexually suggestive and vulgar language. The plea also pointed to a growing trend of offensive and misogynistic content in Bhojpuri songs, claiming it negatively influences children and reinforces harmful stereotypes about women.
Citing fundamental rights, the petition contended that while freedom of speech and expression is protected by the Indian Constitution, it must be exercised within legal and moral boundaries. It called for regulatory guidelines to curb such content and for strict legal action against violations.
Senior advocate Nivedita Nirvikar represented Chandra in the matter. The court’s decision, though procedural, puts the onus on the state government to take regulatory steps against the spread of obscenity in regional music.
