The Top Court fires on television channels for sharing hate speech views

The Top Court today underlined the significance of the "role of anchor" while raping TV channels on hate speech. 

SC also slammed the central government for being a mute viewer.

Justice KM Joseph noted at the time of answering petitions made earlier year. "These speeches on mainstream media or social media are unregulated. It's (the anchors') duty to see that hate speech doesn't continue the moment someone does. Freedom of press is important... Ours is not as free as the US but we should know where to draw a line".

"Hate speech is layered... Like killing someone, you can do it in multiple ways, slowly or otherwise. They keep us hooked based on certain convictions," said the court, elaborating on why hate speech interests spectators.

"Government should not take an adversarial stand but assist the court," it further observed, remarking, "Is this a trivial issue?"

Plea will continue again on 23rd November and by then the union must clarify "if it intends to act on Law Commission recommendations on curbing hate speech." 

The Law Commission, prompted by the Apex Court, had made a report in 2017 guiding specific laws. 

The Commission noted that "Hate speech has not been defined in any law in India. However, legal provisions in certain legislations prohibit select forms of speech as an exception to freedom of speech". It also made a draft legislation as well, guiding insertion of new sections 153C (prohibiting incitement to hatred) and 505A (causing fear, alarm, or provocation of violence in certain cases)" It was stated.