Ahead of ‘Dharam Sansad’ in Himachal, report sought in hate speech case

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 13

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a status report from the Uttarakhand Government by April 22 on alleged hate speeches delivered at a Dharam Sansad at Haridwar in December last year after the state said four FIRs have been registered in this connection.

On behalf of the petitioners, senior advocate Kapil Sibal told a Bench led by Justice AM Khanwilkar that a similar event was being organised on April 17 in Himachal Pradesh.

“The problem is that the event (in Himachal Pradesh) is on Sunday. That’s the real problem. And see what’s happening. I don’t even want to read what the kind of things that are being...,” Sibal said, urging the Bench to issue notice to the Himachal Pradesh Government.

However, asking the petitioners to serve an advance copy of the plea on the Himachal Pradesh standing counsel, the Bench said they were free to inform authorities concerned about the event.

The Supreme Court had on January 12 issued notice to the Centre, Uttarakhand Government and Delhi Police on a PIL seeking action against those responsible for delivering hate speeches during the ‘Dharam Sansad’ held at Haridwar and an event organised by ‘Hindu Yuva Vahini’ in Delhi last month.

Petitioners journalist Qurban Ali and senior advocate Anjana Prakash had sought an “independent, credible and impartial investigation” by an SIT into the incidents of alleged hate speeches. “We have registered four FIRs and in three of them, chargesheets have already been filed,” the Uttarakhand counsel said. As he sought time to file a counter affidavit in the matter, the Bench posted the matter for further hearing on April 22.

The Uttarakhand Police had filed an FIR on December 23 last year under various provisions of the IPC against some persons.

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