The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to constitute a committee to look into cases of hate speech. The top court was hearing a plea over alleged “blatant hate speeches” calling for killing members of a particular community and their social and economic boycott at rallies in different states, including Haryana where recent communal clashes claimed six lives.
The bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti said that there has to be harmony and comity between communities and that nobody can accept hate speech. They directed the petitioner to collate all the material, including video, and submit it to the nodal officers appointed by the court.
The court also referred to its August 2 order, in which it had said that it hoped and trusted that the state governments and police would ensure that no hate speeches are made against any community. It had also said that adequate police force or paramilitary force would be deployed and that the authorities, including the police, would use CCTV cameras installed or record/make video recording in all sensitive areas.
The committee constituted by the Centre will look into all cases of hate speech and take appropriate action. It will also make recommendations to the government on how to prevent hate speech in the future.
The court’s decision is a welcome step in the fight against hate speech. Hate speech is a serious problem in India, and it has the potential to incite violence and communal clashes. The committee will hopefully be able to make a difference in curbing hate speech and promoting harmony and comity between communities.
