The Supreme Court has said that hate speech cannot be promoted in rhetoric. What the court calls hate speech and should be called hate speech. These need to be determined criteria. Justice AM Khanwilkar’s ruling in his ruling on Monday said hate speech in a democratic system committed to pluralism violates equality rights.
The Supreme Court has said that a distinction has to be made between speech and hate speech. The purpose of criminalizing hate speech is to protect the respect of the individual and the rights of equality of different groups. The hate speech spells bitterness in society, which needs to be stopped, the court said. The court made these comments while refusing to file an FIR against the TV anchor. He is accused of commenting on Ajmer Dargah.
The Supreme Court said that in view of its ‘reach and influence’ among the general public, influential people should be more responsible for exercising freedom of expression. The court also said that such people have their own duty. The Court considered various aspects of freedom of expression and hate speech. Hate speeches “serve no purpose other than hate on a particular group,” the court said.
The Court is of the view that in politics committed to pluralism, hate speech cannot contribute to democracy in any legitimate way and in fact it rejects the right to equality. The Supreme Court has ruled in its ruling on June 15 that it has refused to cancel several FIRs filed against TV anchor Amish Devgan for making derogatory remarks on Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
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