That the influencer Ranveer Allahbadia’s mother, who is a doctor, is inviting taunts (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/sc-slams-youtuber-but-shields-him-from-arrestseeks-help-to-regulate-social-media-content/articleshow/118366643.cms ) for no fault of hers, but thanks to the crude remark of her son, shows the need for restraint before making effusively vulgar remarks publicly. The Apex Court, on February 18, condemned him for his offensive remarks on the ‘India's Got Latent' YouTube show but gave him protection against arrest in FIRs lodged in various states. The court sought the assistance of top law officers to devise something to stop “anything and everything” from being broadcast on social media in the name of free speech. The SC had explained what obscenity was in the Apoorva Arora case and had said anything inviting revulsion or disgust need not necessarily warrant criminal prosecution. Profanity is not obscenity. This, I am afraid, is rather wishy-washy. Which is why the Apex Court has sought assistance from the top law officers of the country, hinting at the possibility of Vishaka-like guidelines.

In the US, talk shows are punctuated by, and replete with, the four-letter expletive so much so that it passes as the American grammar to enliven proceedings. In India, bawdy utterances invoking incestuous relationships with........

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