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two-Judge Bench has opined that as far as test of obscenity is
concerned, the prevalent test is the contemporary community
standards test. It is apt to note here that in the said case the
Court was dealing with the issue, what kind of test is to be
applied when personalities like Mahatma Gandhi are alluded.
The Court held:“142. When the name of Mahatma Gandhi is
alluded or used as a symbol, speaking or using
obscene words, the concept of “degree” comes in. To
elaborate, the “contemporary community standards
test” becomes applicable with more vigour, in a
greater degree and in an accentuated manner. What
can otherwise pass of the contemporary community
standards test for use of the same language, it
would not be so, if the name of Mahatma Gandhi is
used as a symbol or allusion or surrealistic voice to
put words or to show him doing such acts which are
obscene. While so concluding, we leave it to the poet
to put his defence at the trial explaining the manner
in which he has used the words and in what
context. We only opine that view of the High Court
pertaining to the framing of charge under Section
292 IPC cannot be flawed.”
23.
Reference to Shreya Singhal (supra) is only to show that
in the said case the Court while dealing with constitutional
validity of Section 66-A of the IT Act noticed that the said
provision conspicuously did not have the word “obscene”. It
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