Go after hate speech suo motu, Supreme Court to cops

Express News Service

NEW DELHI:  Appalled on the proliferation of hate speech, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the police chiefs of Delhi, Uttarakhand and UP to right away take suo motu motion towards individuals irrespective of faith who make them with out ready for a proper criticism. 

“We make it clear that any hesitation to act in accordance with this direction will be viewed as contempt of this court and appropriate action will be taken against the erring officers. We further make it clear that such action will be taken irrespective of the religion that the maker of the speech or the person who commits such an act belongs to, so that the secular character of Bharat as is envisaged by the Preamble, is preserved and protected,” the bench of justices Okay M Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy mentioned. 

They additionally directed the police chiefs of the three states to file an action-taken report relating to incidents of hate speech inside their jurisdiction. “This is the 21st century. What have we reduced God to? Article 51 says we should have a scientific temper. Where have we reached? In the name of religion, it’s tragic,” the bench noticed.

The order got here in a petition filed by Shaheen Abdullah who had sought an impartial probe into incidents of hate speech and hate crimes towards Muslims in these three states. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, showing for Abdullah, mentioned that no matter the existence of penal provisions and courts asking the police to take preventive motion on hate speech, no motion had been taken. He mentioned he was pressured to method the courtroom after an October 9 occasion in Delhi the place hate speeches towards Muslims had been made. 

“These statements are very disturbing for a country which professes to be a democracy and religion-neutral,” Justice Hrishikesh Roy mentioned. The courtroom requested Sibal if hate speeches had been being made by Muslims too. “Are Muslim making hate speeches too? Both sides are actually,” Justice Joseph mentioned. “Anybody who makes such speeches should not be spared,” Sibal responded

The bench mentioned, “The Constitution of India envisages Bharat as a secular nation and fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and unity and the integrity of the country is the guiding principle… There cannot be fraternity unless members of community drawn from different religions or castes of the country are able to live in harmony.”

Need to protect constitutional values
“We feel that this court is charged with the duty to protect the fundamental rights and also preserve the constitutional values and the secular democratic character of the nation and in particular, the rule of law,” the division bench mentioned in its written order

NEW DELHI:  Appalled on the proliferation of hate speech, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the police chiefs of Delhi, Uttarakhand and UP to right away take suo motu motion towards individuals irrespective of faith who make them with out ready for a proper criticism. 

“We make it clear that any hesitation to act in accordance with this direction will be viewed as contempt of this court and appropriate action will be taken against the erring officers. We further make it clear that such action will be taken irrespective of the religion that the maker of the speech or the person who commits such an act belongs to, so that the secular character of Bharat as is envisaged by the Preamble, is preserved and protected,” the bench of justices Okay M Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy mentioned. 

They additionally directed the police chiefs of the three states to file an action-taken report relating to incidents of hate speech inside their jurisdiction. “This is the 21st century. What have we reduced God to? Article 51 says we should have a scientific temper. Where have we reached? In the name of religion, it’s tragic,” the bench noticed.

The order got here in a petition filed by Shaheen Abdullah who had sought an impartial probe into incidents of hate speech and hate crimes towards Muslims in these three states. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, showing for Abdullah, mentioned that no matter the existence of penal provisions and courts asking the police to take preventive motion on hate speech, no motion had been taken. He mentioned he was pressured to method the courtroom after an October 9 occasion in Delhi the place hate speeches towards Muslims had been made. 

“These statements are very disturbing for a country which professes to be a democracy and religion-neutral,” Justice Hrishikesh Roy mentioned. The courtroom requested Sibal if hate speeches had been being made by Muslims too. “Are Muslim making hate speeches too? Both sides are actually,” Justice Joseph mentioned. “Anybody who makes such speeches should not be spared,” Sibal responded

The bench mentioned, “The Constitution of India envisages Bharat as a secular nation and fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and unity and the integrity of the country is the guiding principle… There cannot be fraternity unless members of community drawn from different religions or castes of the country are able to live in harmony.”

Need to protect constitutional values
“We feel that this court is charged with the duty to protect the fundamental rights and also preserve the constitutional values and the secular democratic character of the nation and in particular, the rule of law,” the division bench mentioned in its written order