The Supreme Court rejected a plea seeking to classify “Brahmophobia” as a punishable form of caste-based discrimination. The petitioner, Mahalingam Balaji, was allowed to withdraw the petition for future action. The court emphasized the need to discourage hate speech against any community through societal values.
Hate speech, the court stated, should be deterred regardless of the targeted community. The bench highlighted the importance of education, intellectual growth, tolerance, and patience in combating hate speech. It stressed that fostering fraternity among all would naturally reduce instances of hate speech.
The court questioned the plea’s call for specific legal recognition and protection for a single community. It emphasized the need for uniform application of the law rather than catering to the grievances of a particular group. The petition had requested measures against hate speech targeting Brahmins across various media platforms.
The plea also sought investigations into alleged campaigns inciting caste-based hatred against Brahmins. It included demands for a truth and justice commission to probe historical events, educational reforms, and measures for affected individuals. The court suggested addressing such issues through broader social and policy actions.
