The Supreme Court has reserved its decision on various petitions addressing hate speeches and the alleged failure of authorities to enforce existing regulations. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta indicated that most issues might be closed, except for a specific petition related to a 2021 hate crime against a Muslim cleric in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. These petitions, filed since 2020, are linked to hate speeches surrounding ‘Corona Jihad,’ the ‘UPSC Jihad’ program, and provocative statements at religious events like Dharam Sansads.
The bench led by Justice Nath will continue to hear the case concerning the alleged 2021 hate crime to assess the trial’s status and subsequent actions. In 2023, the Supreme Court had instructed all states and Union Territories to register FIRs suo motu in cases of communal hate speech, even without formal complaints. During the recent hearing, advocates highlighted the issue of enforcement agencies’ reluctance to act against hate speech, especially when offenders have political affiliations.
Advocates emphasized that hate speech events are often pre-advertised, and previous interventions by the court have effectively prevented such incidents. The discussion also touched upon the connection between hate speeches and hate crimes, with references made to an AI-generated video shared by a political party’s Assam unit. The role of social and mainstream media in amplifying hate due to commercial interests was also underscored during the proceedings.
Various parties, including the Election Commission of India, presented their perspectives on hate speech and mechanisms to address it. The bench requested concise written submissions from all parties and reserved its decision on whether additional guidelines or mechanisms are necessary to tackle the issue of hate speech effectively.
