SC: Police sensitisation needed on hate speech

Terming hate speeches against any religious community unacceptable, the Supreme Court on Friday proposed that instances of hate speech reported across Haryana in the aftermath of the violence in Nuh district be handled by a committee set up by the director general of police as nuances of law on hate speech cannot be appreciated by an inspectorlevel officer.

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A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti said, "There must be harmony and comity between religious communities for which all communities are equally responsible." 

The court was responding to two applications filed by one Shaheen Abdullah giving instances of hate speech made against Muslims at rallies conducted in Haryana by Hindu groups, in which an open call was made not to employ Muslims at the shops.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Abdullah, said, "This kind of vitriol cannot go on," as he pointed out that the occurrence was not just limited to Haryana but in other states as well. The bench said, "This is not acceptable," as it asked the Centre, "What can be the solution?"