The apex court has asked the police forces of Delhi, UP and Uttarakhand to take suo motu action against hate speeches, even if there is no complaint about it. Action should be taken without looking at the religion of the accused to preserve the secular fabrics of the country, the top court says.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued directions to stop hate speeches and asked the Delhi, UP and Uttarakhand police to take suo motu action in connection with hate speeches, even if there is no complaint. Action should be taken without looking at the religion of the accused to preserve the secular fabrics of the country. The apex court also orally observed: it is tragic, what we have been reduced to in the name of religion.
Condemning the hate speeches, a bench comprising Justice KM Joseph and Justice Hrishikesh Roy said this is the 21st century. Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Nizam Pasha, who represented the petitioner, sought formation of a special investigation team to deal with the cases of hate speech.
Sibal, who represented Shaheen Abdulla, referred to a speech made by a Member of Parliament of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Parvesh Verma, in New Delhi. In its order, the apex court noted that the plea is related to the atmosphere of hate in the country. The court said there cannot be fraternity unless members of different communities live in harmony. It asked the police of Delhi, UP and Uttarakhand to file a report on action taken in connection with hate speech incidents referred to in the petition.
