Supreme Court to hear plea to ban ‘Sardarji jokes’ on websites

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday decided to examine whether ‘Sardarji jokes’ ridiculing Sikh community as unintelligent, stupid and idiot can be banned from 5,000-odd websites in the internet.

A Bench of justices T.S. Thakur and V. Gopala Gowda, however granted six weeks time to the petitioner, Ms. Harvinder Chowdhry to file additional documents and materials in support of her claim that these jokes offended the Sikh community.

In her petition, she urged the apex court to ensure forthwith a ban on the 5,000-odd websites targeting the community with funny jokes against the Sikhs projecting them “unintelligent”, “stupid”, “idiot”, “foolish”, “naïve”, “inept”, nor well versed with English language.

Ms. Harvinder submitted that she herself belong to the Sikh community but married to a Hindu. She said that such jokes violated the community’s fundamental right to life and to live with dignity guaranteed under Article 21.

Justice Thakur initially suggested Ms. Harvinder that the matter could be referred to the bench headed by Justice J.S. Khehar, who is himself is a Sikh. However, the petitioner insisted that the matter should be heard by the bench headed by Thakur.

As the issue generated laughter in the court, Justice Thakur told the petitioner “But the Sikh community is known for great sense of humor. They also enjoy the jokes. Even Kushwanth Singh used to write jokes and wrote a book.”

The petitioner however, said that jokes apart the community has been subjected to racial abuse and constant ridicule not only in India but various other foreign countries on account of the constant fun made at the community through jokes by these websites.