New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed all states and union territories to ensure that they take suo motu action for registering FIRs without any complaint whenever any hate speech is made. Do it.
The Supreme Court has made it clear that such action will be taken regardless of the religion of the persons making the speech so as to preserve the secular character of India as envisaged by the Preamble.
A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagaratna termed hate speeches as “serious offenses which can harm the religious fabric of the country”. The bench said that its order dated October 21, 2022, will be effective for all areas. She warned that any delay in registering the cases would amount to contempt of court.
The top court had earlier directed Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Uttarakhand to take strict action against those making hate speeches. Then the court had said, where have we reached in the name of religion? The bench said on Friday, judges are apolitical and do not think about first party or second party and the only thing on their mind is the Constitution of India.
The apex court warned that any delay on the part of the administration to act on this very serious matter would amount to contempt of court. The top court’s order came on a plea by journalist Shaheen Abdullah who had earlier sought a direction to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand to register cases against those making hate speeches. Abdullah again filed a petition requesting the apex court’s October 21, 2022 order to be implemented in all states and union territories.
