Hate speeches sullying atmosphere, need to be stopped: Supreme Court

Hate speeches are sullying the atmosphere in the country and need to be stopped, the Supreme Court said on Monday..The remark was made by a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) UU Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat during the hearing of a plea alleging that no action was being taken by government authorities against such speeches. "You are correct that entire atmosphere is getting sullied by these hate speeches and that it needs to be stopped," the bench remarked..The petitioner Harpreet Mansukhani, appearing in person, said that hate speech was given to make India a Hindu rashtra before 2024 general elections. "Hate speech has been turned into a profitable business. A party funded Kashmir Files and then I have proof how it was funded and then made tax free," she said.The petitioner also alleged that he has cited confessions of senior BJP leaders claiming that minorities were killed."Retired army chief, presidents etc wrote to the PM saying this but there was no response. Regarding such an earlier case, Justices Chandrachud and Hima Kohli also sought a status report regarding implementation of the Tehseen Poonawalla judgment," Mansukhani submitted..The bench initially said that normal criminal law proceedings have to be undertaken in such cases."Normal criminal proceedings have to be undertaken in these cases. We have to see who is involved and who is not," CJI Lalit remarked.The petitioner, however, maintained that there needs to be some directions to prevent such conspiracies resulting in such hate speeches."Every time a hate speech is given it is like an arrow which never return," he contended."For a court to take cognizance of this we need factual background. We need some sample of cases. Otherwise it is a random petition," the CJI said..The petitioner then said that he will file an affidavit citing instances of hate speeches and whether crimes were registered on not. The bench agreed and adjourned the case for November 1.