New Delhi, 17 February (H.S.): The Supreme Court described hate speech as an exceedingly sensitive and grave concern on Tuesday while scrutinizing a petition targeting inflammatory remarks by occupants of high constitutional offices.A bench led by Chief Justice Suryakant cautioned petitioners, including Lucknow activist Rup Rekha Verma among twelve, against politically motivated targeting of specific figures such as Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh chief ministers, and Ajit Doval.

The court urged transcending partisanship, asserting that hatred originates in thought and must be eradicated if antithetical to constitutional ethos.Justice Nagarthna echoed, Hatred begins in the mind, and we must eliminate mindsets opposed to the Constitution.

The bench refused petitions perceived as singling out one party or individual but affirmed the issue's severity, advising political parties to rein in leaders via internal mechanisms and media to refrain from repetitive amplification of vitriolic rhetoric.

Questioning judicial fiat's efficacy, the court pondered leader compliance and advocated party constitutions incorporate hate speech prohibitions, befitting India's mature democracy. Government employees and public servants remain tethered to All India Services rules, with expectations of propriety from constitutional authorities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar