Supreme Court refuses to restrain politicians from making hate speeches

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL seeking its direction to restrain politicians from indulging in "provocative and hate speeches" saying that it cannot curtail people's fundamental right to free speech.

"We cannot curtail fundamental rights of people. It is a precious rights guaranteed by Constitution," a bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said, adding "we are a mature democracy and it is for the public to decide."

The court said that it is a matter of perception and a statement objectionable to a person might not be normal to other person.

"We are 128 million people and there would be 128 million views. One is free not accept the view of others," the bench said.

The petitioner, advocate M L Sharma, contended that various politicians indulge in hate speech for securing political mileage in their favour and they must be restrained from doing so.