[Haridwar Dharam Sansad hate speeches] Supreme Court asks Uttarakhand government to file status report

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Uttarakhand government to file a status report in connection with the alleged hate speech targeting the Muslim community delivered at the Haridwar Dharam Sansad last year [Qurban Ali and Another v. Union of India and Others]..A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar was hearing a case in which an interlocutory application (IA) had been filed in view of another upcoming Dharam Sansad on April 17.Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the petitioners said,"Another such event is due to happen in Himachal Pradesh. We have filed an IA ... Event is on Sunday. I don't know what to tell you about what all is being said. I don't even have to read."The Supreme Court then ordered,"List this on next Friday. Serve it upon the standing counsel of Himachal Pradesh. Uttarakhand to file a status report before the next date of hearing. Needless to observe that the applicant is free to alert the concerned authority.".The Supreme Court had on January 12 issued notice to the Central and Uttarakhand governments on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a probe into the alleged hate speech at the Haridwar Dharam Sansad.Filed through Advocate Sumita Hazarika, the petition stated that the speeches made at the Haridwar Dharam Sansad "pose a grave threat not just to the unity and integrity of our country but also endanger the lives of millions of Muslim citizens."The plea highlighted how a video had gone viral in which a police officer was seen acknowledging his allegiance to the alleged offenders. This not only allows "delivery of hate speeches with impunity but also shows that the Police authorities are in fact hand in glove with the perpetrators of communal hate," the petition stated.Besides seeking an SIT probe, the plea sought directions to State authorities to comply with the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of Tehseen Poonawalla v. Union of India.The current IA was filed in connection with this PIL..[Read live account of today's hearing below]