New Delhi, 02 April (H.S.):

The Delhi High Court has directed the takedown of rapper Honey Singh and Badshah’s controversial track “Volume 1” from all digital platforms, including social‑media and streaming services. A bench headed by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, after having listened to the song, described it as one of the rare cases that “shook the conscience to the core,” and ordered that even fragments or clips of the song should not be available on any public platform.

The court held that the song is indecent, deeply vulgar, and offensive to women, treating them as objects rather than human beings. “This material is so degrading that no civilised society can countenance its circulation on digital platforms,” the bench observed, adding that the track lacks any artistic or social value. The judges specifically barred sharing lyrics, remixes, or any derivative versions that might keep the content in the public domain.

Justice Kaurav noted that he had recently heard portions of the song performed live by Honey Singh at a concert, after which the court issued notices to both artists and ordered them to remove the track from their own social‑media handles and any other hosting platforms.

The petition, filed by an organisation called Hindu Shakti Dal, had sought the deletion of the audio and video versions of “Volume 1” from services such as YouTube, Google and Spotify, citing its explicit and misogynistic content.

“Volume 1,” originally released about two decades ago under the Mafia Mundeer group, had attained significant popularity but also drawn widespread criticism for its explicit lyrics and objectification of women. Several formal complaints had been filed against the track in the past, prompting periodic protests and legal scrutiny. With this order, the Delhi High Court has imposed a near‑blanket ban, asking authorities and intermediaries to ensure that the song and its derivatives are effectively blocked across the internet.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar