HC notice over non-compliance with ban on songs glorifying drugs

More than five years after the Directors-General of Police in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh were directed to ensure songs glorifying liquor, wine, drugs and violence were not played even in live shows, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice of motion on a contempt petition alleging failure to comply with court directions. The notice was issued for February 7 by Justice Harkesh Manuja to authorities in Punjab on a petition filed by Panditrao Dharenavar.

The petitioner alleged the high court, in its judgment dated July 22, 2019, had directed the authorities to curb the glorification of drugs, violence and alcohol in songs, but the directive remained largely unimplemented. He said the court had ordered the Directors-Generals to ensure such content was prohibited after observing that such songs negatively impacted children of impressionable age.

Dharenavar contended that officials had failed to act against the promotion of such content. He said many songs glorifying drugs and violence continued to be uploaded on platforms like YouTube, and some singers even performed such songs during live events.