New Delhi: During the hearing on Friday (October 21), the Supreme Court directed to take action without waiting for the registration of an FIR in the Hate Speech case. Taking a strict stand, the Supreme Court said that any kind of inaction in this matter will be considered as contempt of court.

The top court has said that if there is negligence in such cases, then contempt action will be taken against the officials. The court said that in cases of hate speech, even if an FIR has not been registered, the government and the police should take suo motu cognizance and take immediate action on it. Don't care about the religion of the person making the statement. The court has said that 'We feel that the court has a duty to protect the fundamental rights and to protect and preserve the constitutional values, especially the rule of law and the secular democratic character of the nation'. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued on behalf of the petitioner.

A division bench of Supreme Court Justice KM Joseph and Justice Hrishikesh Roy has called for a report on hate speech from the governments of Delhi, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The court has said that these governments should present a report before the court regarding the action taken so far on hate speech crimes in their jurisdiction. The court said such provocative speeches are astonishing for a secular country in the 21st century. The court said, 'Where have we reached today in the name of religion? The social fabric is being torn apart. How small have we made God? Such provocative statements cannot be tolerated at all.'

The Supreme Court said, 'The Constitution of India sees India as a secular nation and society. Ensuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the country are the guiding principles enshrined in the Preamble. There can be no fraternity unless members of a community of different religions or castes live in harmony.' In fact, Shaheen Abdullah, while filing a petition in the apex court, has demanded the court to direct a fair and credible investigation into the incidents of hate speech across the country. It was said in the petition that intimidation of Muslims has become a practice in the country and it should be stopped immediately.

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