The Delhi High Court issued a strong and unambiguous order on Thursday directing the Central government, all social media intermediaries and music platforms to immediately block Honey Singh and Badshah’s controversial song Volume 1. Specifically, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav ordered that not even fragments of the song or its lyrics should enter the public domain under any circumstances. Furthermore, the court made clear that the ban applies to all forms in which the song currently exists across any digital platform.
Judge Says Song Shocked His Conscience to Its Core
Justice Kaurav revealed in his order that he personally listened to the song inside his chambers before passing the directions. Specifically, he described it as one of the rarest cases where the conscience of the court was shocked to its absolute core. Furthermore, the court categorically stated that no civil society can permit such content to remain available on digital platforms. Additionally, the bench recorded that the song is obscene, deeply derogatory toward women and completely devoid of any artistic or social value whatsoever.
The Delhi High Court used exceptionally strong language in describing the content of the song in its formal order. Specifically, the bench stated that the lyrics are not only offensive but are openly dehumanising and attempt to normalise the treatment of women as objects of ridicule and sexual gratification. Consequently, the court found no justification for allowing the song to remain accessible to the public in any form. Together, these observations reflect the severity with which the court viewed the content and its potential social impact.
Honey Singh and Badshah Issued Notice
The court issued formal notice to both Honey Singh and Badshah after observing that Honey Singh recently performed verses of the song at a live concert. Specifically, Justice Kaurav ordered both artists to remove the song from their personal social media handles and all other platforms where they maintain a presence. Furthermore, the court directed that any URLs containing the song, its remixes or any related content must be reported immediately to the Central government for prompt action. Consequently, authorities must act without delay upon receiving such reports from the petitioner.
What Triggered the Court Order
The Hindu Shakti Dal organisation filed the original petition before the Delhi High Court, prompting the court to examine the content of the song formally. Additionally, the court granted the petitioner full liberty to compile a comprehensive list of all URLs across any platform containing the obscene song, its remixes or any derivative content. Furthermore, the petitioner must submit this list directly to the Union of India, which will then issue the necessary directions for immediate takedown by the relevant authorities.
What Is Volume 1 and Why Has It Been Controversial
Volume 1 is a track by Honey Singh released approximately two decades ago. Specifically, the song gained significant popularity at the time of its release but simultaneously faced widespread backlash for its explicit lyrics and alleged misogyny. Furthermore, the song prompted legal complaints and public protests across India soon after its release. Additionally, the track has been at the centre of a long-running dispute between Honey Singh and Badshah, who was once part of the Mafia Mundeer collective that Honey Singh led.
Badshah publicly accused Honey Singh of sidelining collaborators and taking undue credit for collective work produced by the group. However, Honey Singh denied these allegations entirely. Currently, the court order adds a new and significant legal dimension to an already contentious relationship between the two artists. Specifically, both now face direct judicial direction to remove the song from their platforms and cooperate with the government’s takedown process. Therefore, the controversy surrounding Volume 1 has moved well beyond a creative dispute and into the formal domain of Indian law and judicial intervention.
