SC asks Delhi HC to hear hate speech petition on March 6

The Supreme Court today heard a petition that called for FIRs to be lodged against politicians for hate speech.

The apex court has asked the Delhi High Court to list the petition for hearing on Friday, March 6. The court also added that the High Court should consider the possibility of peaceful resolution of the matter.

A petition was filed by victims of the riots in Delhi over the past week with the help of senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who had requested for an urgent listing of the matter in the apex court.


Petitioners have named BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma and Kapil Mishra for incendiary speeches during their campaigns for the Delhi Assembly elections earlier this year.

A petition had originally been filed - earlier this month - in the Delhi High Court on the same grounds, which led to a bench headed by Justice S Muralidhar calling up Delhi Police and asking them to review footage.

However, Justice Muralidhar was transferred to Chandigarh, handing the hearing over to Justice D N Patel and Justice C Harishankar. The judges, on request from the Delhi police, set the next hearing for April 13.

The postponement led to the petitioners moving the Supreme Court to hear the matter today.