New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday (November 14) refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a direction for the formulation of guidelines to prevent hate speech and action against persons who make such speech.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, while refusing to entertain the PIL filed by ‘Hindu Sena Samiti’, noted that the top court is already seized of the matter.
There is a difference between hate speech and wrong assertion, bench observed
The bench, while observing that there is a difference between hate speech and wrong assertion, told the counsel representing the petitioner that in case the petitioner has any grievance, the it may raise the same in accordance with law.
“We are not inclined to entertain the present writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, which in fact refers to alleged references. Further, there is a difference between hate speech and wrong assertions…In case the petitioner has any grievance, it may raise the same in accordance with law,” the bench said and added that it had not made observations on the merits of the case.
What did petitioner seek?
The petitioner ‘Hindu Sena Samiti’ had sought a direction from the court for formulation of guidelines to regulate hate speech, penal action against those who make hate speech and a directive for mandatory training programmes for politicians.
Apex Court is seized of a batch of petitions concerning hate speech
The apex court is seized of a batch of petitions seeking direction to curb hate speech and penal action action against person making hate speech,
Earlier, the top court, while hearing the matter, termed the hate speeches as a serious offence having the capability to destroy the social fabric of the country and had directed all states and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure that suo motu action is taken to register cases for hate speeches even in the absence of a complaint and without taking into consideration the religion of the offenders.
The top court earlier had said that it wants effective practical steps to be taken by authorities to ensure that its directions in the 2018 judgment in the Tehseen Poonawalla case dealing with hate speeches, lynching and mob violence are followed.
