“Court stunned to its core”: Delhi High Court ruling Badshah and Honey Singh will remove the Volume 1 song.

Singer-rappers Honey Singh and Badshah seem to be at odds, but their contentious song, Volume 1, has put them both in hot water once more. Honey Singh and Badshah have been ordered by the Delhi High Court to remove their 2006–07 song Volume 1 from all social media sites right now. The music is blatantly obscene, extremely vulgar, and disparaging to women, creative ideals, and societal norms, the court noted.

The court observed that the lyrics are not only disrespectful but also appear to be intended to normalize the representation of women as objects of sexual gratification and mockery. The court additionally ruled that artistic freedom of speech cannot be used as an excuse for allowing the distribution of such content online, including access by minors.

In a statement, the court noted, “This is one of the rare cases where the conscience of the court is shocked to its absolute core. It is one of those unfortunate instances where the court finds that the song is grossly vulgar, patently obscene, and derogatory towards women, artistic values, and social norms. The lyrics are not merely disrespectful or offensive but are ex facie calculated to normalise the treatment of women as objects of ridicule and sexual gratification.”

“The court observed that interim directions are required to be issued, as allowing dissemination of such content on online platforms, including access by minors, cannot be countenanced under the guise of artistic freedom of speech. No civilised society can permit such content to remain freely available or be monetised. Respondent Nos. 4 (Spotify) and 5 (Honey Singh), and any other persons claiming rights in the impugned obscene song(s), are directed to immediately take down the URLs hosting such content from social media platforms or any other online locations,” the court said in its order.

As members of the rap group Mafia Mundeer, which also included Ikka, Lil Golu, and Raftaar, Badshah and Honey Singh started their careers together. The group sang a number of well-known songs, including Delhi Ke Deewane, Begani Naar Buri, and Khol Botal. The last time the band played was in 2012. Following a disagreement and a public altercation, the two split up and began disparaging one another on social media. 

In the meantime, Badshah got involved in a scandal last month after his song Tateeree was released. The song drew criticism from a number of sources, with many viewers criticizing its purportedly improper and sexual lyrics and graphics.