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Synopsis

The Madhya Pradesh government has informed the Supreme Court that it has taken a number of steps, including nominating nodal officers in each district, setting up of social media cell and activating the vigilance system, for effective prevention of hate speech and hate crimes.

"In compliance of the order dated 25.08.2023, if any incident occurs in district under Section 153A, 153B, 295A and 505 IPC, then, on not receiving any complaint for taking effective action on such incidents, it has been directed to conduct proceedings by taking Suo Motu Action," an affidavit by the state government said.

It further said for effective prevention of the hate speech and hate crimes, Home Department, Government of MP by its order on November 20, 2023, has appointed the Superintendent of Police of Districts of each District and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of each Commissionarate as Nodal Officer and the all anti-social elements, unruly youths of area are being monitored through all the Nodal Officers/ SHO/ Chowki Incharge.

"Social Media Cell has been constituted for constant monitoring on Social Media, and the Deputy Superintendent of Police level Officer has been appointed as its Nodal Officer. The Cell has been ordered to keep watch on the Social Media Platform constantly and in the event of finding an Video/Post related to Hate Speech on Social Media, directions have been issued for removing the same and for taking action against the concerned persons," it said.

The affidavit was filed in compliance to the Supreme Court's order of August 25, 2023 in 2021 PIL by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay on appointment of nodal officers to deal with hate speech and hate crimes.

For preventing hate speech and hate crime, by setting up Social Media Cell at district level for keeping constant monitoring on the radical persons and persons giving hate speech, the Additional Superintendent of Police has been appointed as Nodal Officer and for his assistance, the monitoring is being done by deploying Sub-Divisional Officer and training has been imparted to the Officers/ Employees posted in the District Special Branch, in Police Headquarter, Bhopal under the Graded Police Response System of Government of India, under which, the persons committing hate crime and hate speech through social media and other methods are being monitored constantly through the trained Officers/ Employees, the government said.

The state government said directions have been issued to all Gazetted Officers (Police)/ SHO, to run public awareness campaigns in social/ religions programmes as well as in schools and colleges for prevention of incidents of hate speech and hate crime.

During the crime review meeting, all the Gazetted Officers (Police) and all SHO/ Chowki Incharge have been directed to take immediate lawful action on receiving information regarding hate speech/ hate crime, it said.

"The Cyber Cell constituted at District Headquarter Level, has been directed to keep constant watch on the social media platform and to inform the Senior Officers immediately in the event of uploading any video/ reel related to hate speech, so that, on receiving information of such hate speech/ crime, the immediate action could be taken against the concerned persons as per law," it said.

For keeping a constant watch and for conducting lawful proceedings, the vigilance system has been activated, it said.

 

Cause Title: Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay Vs Union of India & Ors