The oral observation was made by the bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S.V.N. Bhatti on a batch of petitions seeking action against hate speeches, following the Nuh-Gurugram communal violence in Haryana
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — All hate speeches will be dealt with according to law and treated alike irrespective of which side they belong to, the Supreme Court said on Friday.
The oral observation was made by the bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S.V.N. Bhatti on a batch of petitions seeking action against hate speeches, including a recently-filed plea seeking action against calls made by several groups for a social and economic boycott of Muslims following the Nuh-Gurugram communal violence in Haryana, India Legal website said.
After a brief hearing, the apex court adjourned the matter till August 25, stating that the division bench had to hear a batch of pleas challenging the caste-based survey undertaken by the Bihar government.
Justice Khanna said that he had gone through the Tehseen Poonawalla guidelines and hoped that they were being complied with.
A counsel apprised the court about the provocative slogans raised by members of the youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League during a July rally in northern Kerala, alleging that slogans such as ‘death to Hindus’ were raised during the rally.
The bench assured him that the hate speech law would apply irrespective of the identity of the perpetrator, adding that anyone indulging in ‘hate speech’ would be dealt with as per the law.
Noting that the apex court has clearly expressed its opinion on hate speech, the bench said the same need not be repeated.
Justice Khanna then instructed the counsel wishing to file their written submissions to submit them a day before the next date of hearing.
Following a number of occurrences, including calls for a Muslim boycott and the closing of mosques in Gurugram, an application was moved in the court seeking to initiate appropriate action against the speakers who instigated communal disharmony.
According to the application, after the Nuh violence, more than 27 rallies have been organised across various states where blatant hate speeches calling for the killing and social and economic boycott of Muslims have been openly delivered.
The application mentioned various rallies that have taken place in the first week of August.
