In 2023, a video surfaced showing the Tibetan spiritual leader kissing a boy and instructing him to "suck his lips." The incident triggered widespread public outrage, prompting the Dalai Lama to issue an apology. Twitter users expressed strong condemnation, describing the act as "disgusting." Today, the High Court noted that the incident occurred more than a year and a half ago, took place in full public view, and emphasized that the child had expressed willingness and intent to meet the Dalai Lama.

 

The petitioner's counsel informed the Bench that the video had been disseminated by multiple media outlets and requested the court to issue orders for redacting the child's identity. The lawyer suggested that authorities should intervene and take suo motu action on the entire incident.

 

“I am not here to bring his holiness (Dalai Lama) under scanner but the authorities must intervene and take suo motu investigation… This will normalise kissing a child on the lips. There are many babas and gurus who force children to participate in such acts,” the counsel said.