Hate speeches need to be stopped: CJI Lalit

Hate speeches need to be stopped as they have sullied the atmosphere in the country, Chief Justice of India UU Lalit said during the hearing of a plea which contended that the Centre was not taking any action against those making hate speeches.

Petitioner Harpreet Mansukhani alleged that a hate speech exhorted people to 'make India a Hindu rashtra before 2024 general elections'. The petitioner claimed that he had cited confessions of senior BJP leaders that allegedly said 'minorities were killed'.

Hearing the case along with Justice S Ravindra Bhat, the CJI initially observed that normal criminal law proceedings have to be undertaken in such cases. "Normal criminal proceedings have to be undertaken in the cases. We have to see who is involved and who is not."


The petitioner contended that the court should intervene and pass directions to prevent such hate speeches. "For a court to take cognisance of this, we need factual background. We need some samples of cases. Otherwise it is a random petition," the CJI said. The petitioner said that he will file an affidavit citing instances of hate speeches. Agreeing to the submission the bench adjourned the case to November 1.