Hate speech unacceptable: Supreme Court directs Centre to form committee to look into same

This comes as a petition by journalist Shaheen Abdullah requested the Supreme Court to give a direction to the Centre to crack down on "blatant hate speeches", which called for killing members of a community and their economic and social boycott in rallies held across the country, including in Haryana, where communal clashes last week killed six.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti said there has to be harmony and comity between communities.

"There has to be harmony and comity between the communities. All the communities are responsible. The problem of hate speech is not good and nobody can accept it," the apex court said.

The court told Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, to seek instructions and reply about the committee by August 18.

The bench also told the petitioner to collate all the material, including videos, and give them to nodal officers.

In the petition, Abdullah said, "We hope and trust that the state governments and police will ensure that no hate speeches irrespective of the identity are made against any community and there is no physical violence or damage to the properties."

Justice Khanna said the Supreme Court will tell the police chief to form a committee, which will look into hate speech complaints received by police stations in different areas.

The next hearing is scheduled for August 18.