SC agrees to hear plea seeking prohibition of hate speech

The Supreme Court has expressed concern over hate speech and agreed to hear a plea seeking to prohibit Hindu Janakrosh Morcha event scheduled be held on February 5 in Mumbai.

The application filed by one, Shaheen Abdulla, contended that several events and rallies have taken place across Maharashtra calling for an economic and social boycott of the Muslim community, and levelling allegations of “land jihad” and “love jihad” to criminalise the entire community, according to Bar and Bench.

A bench of Justice KM Joseph, Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Hrishikesh Roy said it will seek instructions from Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and subject to his approval post the matter for hearing on Friday.

“We are with you on this, but understand that the Supreme Court cannot be triggered every time there is a rally notified. We have already passed an order which is clear enough. Just imagine rallies happening all across the country. Every time there will be an application before the Supreme Court. How can that be feasible? “You ask us to be embarrassed again and again by getting an order. We have passed so many orders yet nobody is taking action. The Supreme Court should not be asked to pass an order on an event to event basis,” the bench observed.

The court asked her to serve a copy of the application to the counsel for Maharashtra. “Serve a copy on the State, we will list it tomorrow subject to orders of the CJI. Only this case, not the entire batch,” the bench said.

The apex court top court on October 21 last year directed the Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments to come down hard on hate speeches, promptly registering criminal cases against the culprits without waiting for a complaint to be filed, according to PTI.

The court had also warned that any delay on the part of the administration in taking action on this “very serious issue” would invite the court’s contempt.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM