Hate speech takes place as state govt is powerless and don’t act in time : Supreme Court

New Delhi: Expressing its strongest displeasure and anguish over the way the hate speeches are going on across the country, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that this is going on because the state governments are "impotent, powerless and doesn’t act in time".

“This is going because the state is impotent, powerless and doesn’t act in time. Why do we have the state at all if the state is silent,?" a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice KM Joseph, and also comprising Justice B V Nagarathna, slammed the states for failing to put a stop to the hate speeches allegedly going on.

During the course of the hearing, Justice Joseph told counsel of Hindu Samaj, one of the parties in the case, “Most important thing is dignity. Some statements are made like go to Pakistan. They are actually one who had chosen this country. They are your brothers and sisters.”

Terming hate speech as “vicious circle”, the Apex Court said, as to why can't states develop a mechanism for culling the offence of hate speech in the society.

“The idea of fraternity was so much there & now I’m sorry to say cracks are coming,," Justice Nagarathna observed.

The Apex Court asked the Maharashtra government to respond to a contempt plea filed against it for failing to control "hate speeches by Hindu organisations" despite the orders of the top court, and posted the matter for further hearing to April 28 and said that the State will have to initiate action against the accused persons or whosoever is involved.

The Apex Court observed these serious remarks while hearing a contempt petition filed by Kerala-based Shaheen Abdullah over a news report that said that at least 50 rallies were held in the State in the last four months where hate speeches were allegedly made.

"There must be restraint on every citizen" the Supreme Court said and added that citizens of this country should take a pledge not to vilify other members in the country. Justice Joseph said that the major problem is that politicians make use of religion.

"If you want to become a superpower there has to be rule of law," observed Justice Joseph.

The Supreme Court expressed anguish over the hate speeches and said that all sides are making these statements and asked will the court now take contempt of court action against all Indians?.

Justice Nagarathna said, “Where are we going? We had orators like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. People from rural areas used to come to listen to them. Now, people who have no stuff are making these speeches.”

Justice Nagarathna further said, “Now fringe elements from all sides making these statements and we are now going to take contempt of court action against all Indians? Intolerance comes from lack of knowledge and education. How many contempt after contempt we will see. How will Supreme Court deal with all this? Why cannot the citizens of this country take a pledge to not villify others and what kind of pleasure are we deriving?”

"The moment politics and religion is segregated all this will stop, Justice Joseph observed.

The Apex Court asked why cant states develop a mechanism for culling the offence of hate speech in the society. (UNI)