Hate speeches could be sullying nation's atmosphere: Supreme Court

New Delhi: Just as hate speeches are becoming rampant, India's apex court on Monday observed that they be curbed.

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging that hate speeches are part of a criminal conspiracy when the court said hate speeches could be sullying the nation's atmosphere.

Chief Justice of India U U Lalit made the insightful remark while hearing the plea that said hate speeches were being made "to win the majority Hindu votes, to grab power at all posts, to commit genocide and make India a Hindu Rashtra before 2024 elections", as per a report in The Indian Express.

Petitioner Harpreet Mansukhani Saigal in his plea alleged victimisation of a common man by a larger conspiracy through state-sponsored violence, hands in glove with central agencies, and terror groups, turning India into a police state.

The two-judge bench of Justice S Ravindra Bhat and the CJI said the plea alleging conspiracy had only " vague assertions" lacking detailed information.

"We don't even know what are the details of those particular crimes, what is the status, what is your say, who are the persons involved, whether any crime was registered, not registered, etc. You may be right, perhaps, in saying that the entire atmosphere is being sullied as a result of hate speeches. Perhaps you have every justifiable grounds to say that this needs to be curbed, but this kind of ominous petition under Article 32 cannot be," CJI Lalit was quoted as saying.

While listing the case on November1, the court asked the petitioner to submit an additional affidavit by October 31detailing the crime in question and steps taken in the investigation if any.