Delhi HC Declares Language Used In The 'College Romance' Web Series Is Obscene And Vulgar

In a ruling on Monday, the Delhi High Court declared that the language used in the 'College Romance' web series on TVF's over-the-top (OTT) platform is obscene, profane, and vulgar. The Court found that it could corrupt and deprave the minds of young people. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma watched the episodes with earphones in her chamber because the language used was so vulgar that it could have been alarming to those around her.

Justice Sharma said that the language used in the web series does not represent the way that the youth in educational institutions speak in this country. The bench held that the language used in the show fails the test of moral decency and the community standards of the common man.

The Court considered the petitions filed by TVF, Singh, and Arora, which challenged the orders of the Additional Sessions Judge and the ACMM. The orders were based on a complaint that the show's Episode 5 of Season 1 contained vulgar and obscene language. The complaint alleged that the episode's title, 'Happily Fucked Up,' was vulgar and that it contained an indecent or obscene portrayal of girls or women in the worst form. The Court was informed that the video is available on YouTube for viewing by anyone in India without any age restriction mechanism.

Justice Sharma dismissed the argument that courts cannot act as moral police and observed that even in Indian society today, swear words are not spoken in certain contexts. The judge concluded that the obscene language in the web series, which is accessible to the public, warrants criminal prohibition. Therefore, the court directed the police to register an FIR under the relevant sections of the IPC and IT Act. However, Justice Sharma clarified that the direction to register the FIR does not authorize the arrest of any of the accused/petitioners.