SC to deliver verdict on pleas concerning hate speeches on Wednesday

The Supreme Court will pronounce its verdict on a batch of petitions related to hate speeches on Wednesday. According to the apex court's cause list of April 29, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta will deliver the judgement. On January 20, the apex court observed that it would close most of the petitions related to hate speeches pending since 2021, and in which the court had asked the police to suo motu register FIRs. The bench reserved its verdict on these petitions, filed by various individuals, after the Centre, Delhi Police, and the Uttar Pradesh government asserted that they had substantially complied with the court's directives. The bench had said that the petitioners could pursue their remedies in accordance with the law. On April 28, 2023, the top court extended the scope of its 2022 order beyond three states and directed all states and Union Territories to register cases against individuals guilty of making hate speeches, regardless of whether a formal complaint was lodged. It termed hate speeches a ''serious offence capable of affecting the secular fabric of the country''. The top court noted that its October 21, 2022, order shall be made applicable irrespective of religion, warning that any delay in registering cases will be treated as contempt of the court. Emphasising that the Constitution envisages a secular nation, the apex court had in 2022 directed Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi to promptly register criminal cases against the offenders without waiting for a complaint to be filed. The apex court had warned that any delay from the administration in taking action on this ''very serious issue'' would invite contempt action. The top court's order came on one of the pleas, which had initially sought direction to the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to register cases against those delivering hate speeches. Later, an application was filed in the court seeking implementation of the October 2022 order across states and UTs.

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