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Kapil Sibal has told Supreme Court today that, “We’re living in times when the slogans in the country have changed from “Satyameva Jayate” to 'Shasatrameva Jayate'" he mentioned a PIL against alleged hate speeches made at an event organised at Haridwar and Delhi.

A bench consisting of the Chief Justice of India, Justices Surya Kant & NV Ramana stated that they will take up the issue.

A Writ Petition has been filed in Supreme Court seeking the court’s intervention in respect of the ‘hate speeches’ that was  delivered on the 17th 2021 at Haridwar organised by Yati Narsinghanand, and on 19th December 2021 at organised  by an organization called ‘Hindu Yuva Vahini (hereinafter According to the petition the speeches were made with the apparent objective of declaring war against a significant section of the Indian Citizenry.

The petition states that these ‘hate; speeches consisted of open calls for genocide of Muslims in order to achieve ethnic cleansing. It further states that these speeches are not mere hate speeches but amount to an open call for murder of an entire community.  According to the petition these speeches are a threat not just to the unity and integrity of India but also endanger the lives of millions of Muslim citizens.

According to the petition despite the passage of almost 3 weeks no effective steps have been taken by the Police authorities including non-application of Sections 120B, 121A and 153B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 that need to be evoked under such circumstances. The petition further states that the Police authorities have registered two FIRs against 10 people who took part in the Haridwar Dharam Sansad but even in the said FIRs are registered only for the offences of promoting enmity.

According to the petition no action whatsoever has been taken by the Delhi Police in relation with the event held in Delhi despite the fact that open calls for genocide, that are available on the internet. The petition further claims that t the recent speeches are a part of a series of similar speeches that the petitioners have come across in the past. It may be noted that no effective steps have been taken under the relevant and effective sections of  IPC in respect of the earlier hate speeches.

The petition further states that a blatant inaction by the Police also came into the forefront when video of one of the speakers at the event mentioned that a police officer has acknowledged his allegiance with the organizers and speakers of the Dharam Sansad.

The petition claims that not only the inaction of the Police allows delivery of hate speeches with impunity but also shows that the Police authorities are in fact hand in glove with the perpetrators of communal hate.

Case title: Qurban Ali & And Vs Union of India