Curbing Hate Speech in India

• 09 Dec 2025

For Prelims: Law Commission Report, Article 19(1)(a), Contempt of Court, BNS, Untouchability, Supreme Court (SC).  

For Mains: About Hate Speech and Constitutional, Legal and Judicial stand on it. Steps Taken to Curb Hate Speech, and Further Steps Needed to Effectively Tackle Hate Speech. 

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

Karnataka has become the first Indian state to introduce a dedicated legislation to curb hate speech and hate crimes — the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025.  

• The Bill aims to plug a legislative gap in Indian criminal law where “hate speech” remains undefined, despite its frequent invocation in political and social discourse.

Key Provisions of Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025 

• Definition of hate speech: The Bill defines hate speech as any expression causing injury or disharmony against a person or group based on religion, race, caste, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, or disability. 
• Collective liability: The Bill introduces organisational accountability, where persons in positions of responsibility can be held guilty if hate speech is linked to their organisation. 
• Internet regulation: The Bill empowers the state government to block or remove hateful content online, addressing the digital propagation of hate speech.

What is Hate Speech?

• About: According to the 267th Law Commission Report (2017), hate speech means words or actions meant to stir hatred against groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc. 
  • Thus, it includes spoken or written words, signs, or visuals intended to create fear, provoke violence, or incite hatred. 
• Constitutional Framework: Article 19(1)(a) ensures free speech, while Article 19(2) permits reasonable limits to protect sovereignty, security, public order, morality, dignity, foreign relations, and to prevent defamation, contempt of court, or incitement of offences. 
• Legal Framework:  
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Section 196 of BNS (formerly section 153A of Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860) penalises promoting enmity between groups based on religion, race, language, etc. 
    • Section 299 (formerly IPC 295A) punishes deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings. 
  • Information Technology Act, 2000: Section 66A of this act was used for online hate speech, but was struck down in the Shreya Singhal Case, 2015 for vagueness. 
  • Representation of People’s Act (RPA),1951: Section 8 of the RPA, 1951 bars those convicted of promoting group enmity or acts harmful to harmony based on religion, race, birthplace, residence, or language. 
  • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: It punishes anyone who intentionally insults or humiliates a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe. 
  • Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: It punishes inciting or encouraging untouchability through words, signs, visible representations, or other means.

What are the Key Judgements Related to Hate Speech in India? 

• Shaheen Abdulla v. Union of India and Ors, 2022: The Supreme Court (SC) observed a rising climate of hate and directed police to take suo motu action without waiting for formal complaints. 
• Tehseen S. Poonawalla v Union of India, 2018: The SC issued guidelines under Sections 153 and 295A of IPC to tackle hate speech-fueled mob violence, including a district nodal officer to prevent lynching and cow vigilantism. 
• Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India, 2014: The SC asked the Law Commission to consider defining hate speech and recommend ways to empower the Election Commission to curb it. 
• Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, 2015: The SC struck down Section 66A of the IT Act, 2000. It agreed that the law was too vague and violated free speech, as terms like "annoyance" and "insult" did not qualify as reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2). 

How has India Attempted to Curb Hate Speech? 

• Law Commission: 267th Law Commission Report (2017) recommended adding Sections 153C and 505A to the IPC to criminalise incitement to hatred and provoking violence. 
• Legal Initiative: In 2022, the Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2022 (Private Member Bill) was introduced in the Rajya Sabha to define hate speech as any expression that incites, promotes, or spreads discrimination, hatred, or violence, but it was not passed. 
• Committees:  
  • Viswanathan Committee 2015: It proposed adding Sections 153C(b) and 505A to the IPC to punish incitement to offences based on religion, race, caste, community, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, birthplace, residence, language, disability, or tribe, with up to two years imprisonment and a Rs 5,000 fine. 
  • Bezbaruah Committee 2014: It proposed amending Section 153C IPC (promoting acts against human dignity) with up to five years imprisonment and fine, and Section 509A IPC (insulting a particular race) with up to 3 years imprisonment or fine.

What Measures Should be Taken to Effectively Curb Hate Speech in India? 

• Legal Enforcement: Create a precise legal definition for hate speech that specifically targets expression inciting violence or discrimination. Enforce tiered penalties, from fines to imprisonment for severe cases. Implement Viswanathan and Bezbaruah Committee recommendations by adding specific sections in the BNS, 2023.  
• Social & Educational Approaches: Integrate media literacy and critical thinking into school programs and public campaigns to build public resilience against hate speech. Amplify credible community voices to actively challenge and dismantle harmful stereotypes. 
• Institutional Mechanisms: Establish independent oversight bodies to monitor hate speech trends with privacy safeguards, and create secure, confidential reporting systems with whistleblower protection. 
• International Cooperation: Develop international agreements to address transnational hate speech with cultural sensitivity, and create global forums for sharing effective counter-strategies. 

Conclusion 

The Karnataka Bill represents a significant attempt to codify and strictly penalize hate speech, addressing a critical legislative gap. Its success will hinge on a precise, constitutional definition, robust enforcement mechanisms, and a balanced approach that safeguards both social harmony and the fundamental right to freedom of expression.

Drishti Mains Question:

Q. Hate speech is not merely a legal issue but a socio-cultural one. Evaluate the role of educational, social, and technological measures as complementary tools to legal frameworks in creating a resilient society against hate speech.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q. What is the constitutional basis for restricting hate speech in India? 
Article 19(2) of the Constitution permits reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech (Article 19(1)(a)) in the interests of public order, sovereignty, security, and to prevent incitement to offences, among other grounds. 

Q. Why was Section 66A of the IT Act, 2000 struck down by the Supreme Court? 
It was struck down in the Shreya Singhal case (2015) for being unconstitutionally vague and overbroad, violating the freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a). 

Q. What was a key recommendation of the 267th Law Commission Report (2017) on hate speech? 
It recommended inserting new sections 153C and 505A into the IPC to specifically criminalise incitement to hatred and provocation of violence. 

Summary 

• India currently lacks a codified law against hate speech, relying on scattered provisions with low conviction rates.  
• The proposed Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Bill, 2025, aims to fill this gap by defining hate speech, prescribing strict punishments of 2–10 years, and introducing collective liability for organizations.  
• This aligns with past recommendations, like the 2017 Law Commission report, and follows Supreme Court concerns over rising hate speech.  
• The bill seeks to balance free speech with social harmony through specific, enforceable measures. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)   

Prelims 

Q1. ‘Right to Privacy’ is protected under which Article of the Constitution of India? (2021) 

(a) Article 15 

(b) Article 19 

(c) Article 21 

(d) Article 29

Ans: (c)

Q2. Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement? (2018) 

(a) Article 14 and the provisions under the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution. 

(b) Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV. 

(c) Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III. 

(d) Article 24 and the provisions under the 44th Amendment to the Constitution. 

Ans: (c)

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Mains

Q. What do you understand by the concept “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss. (2014)