Editor's Pick: SC tells two States to act against communal hate

The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned the heat on BJP-ruled Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to take “corrective measures” against the peddling of communal hate in ‘dharam sansad’ events and warned that the Chief Secretaries of the two States will be held responsible for any “untoward statements” made during these programmes. A Bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar said the Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries and the police in these States were “bound” to stop hate crimes and follow the preventive and punitive measures against hate crimes laid down by the Supreme Court in its judgments. “We want to see you take corrective measures…These events do not take place overnight. Advance notice is given. Please explain what preventive action you have taken, and did you take actions those responsible after that,” Justice Khanwilkar addressed the State counsel for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal said a ‘dharam sansad’ was scheduled at Roorkee in Uttarakhand on Wednesday. He showed the court the purported communal statements made by speakers in earlier event which took place in Himachal Pradesh between April 17 and 19. “They are not taking action despite judgments from this court…These events are happening in different places,” Mr. Sibal submitted. Counsel for Uttarakhand said FIRs had been filed in the case of earlier events of similar nature. He said two communities “who are at loggerheads with each other” were both holding such events. The State had taken action in the past without any communal bias. We do not know what they will say in their speeches…But we are taking steps…Your lordships may have faith in us,” the lawyer said. The Court’s warning to the two states comes in the wake of several such soirees being held by Hindu religious organisations where hate speeches have been made by self-syled “gurus”, leading to unease and discomfort in the society. The report on the terse warning is the lead in The Hindu and serves to remind the state of its constitutional duty to protect the right to live with dignity. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials Buying free speech: On Elon Musk’s Twitter buy Myopic view: On sports and politics The Hindu’s Daily Quiz On April 22, which country described the territory called the Kuril Islands as being under the “illegal occupation” of Russia? Mongolia Finland Japan Ukraine To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 27 APRIL 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( SC tells two States to act against communal hate The [Supreme Court on Tuesday turned the heat]( on BJP-ruled Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to take “corrective measures” against the peddling of communal hate in ‘dharam sansad’ events and warned that the Chief Secretaries of the two States will be held responsible for any “untoward statements” made during these programmes. A Bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar said the Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries and the police in these States were “bound” to stop hate crimes and follow the preventive and punitive measures against hate crimes laid down by the Supreme Court in its judgments. “We want to see you take corrective measures…These events do not take place overnight. Advance notice is given. Please explain what preventive action you have taken, and did you take actions those responsible after that,” Justice Khanwilkar addressed the State counsel for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal said a ‘dharam sansad’ was scheduled at Roorkee in Uttarakhand on Wednesday. He showed the court the purported communal statements made by speakers in earlier event which took place in Himachal Pradesh between April 17 and 19. “They are not taking action despite judgments from this court…These events are happening in different places,” Mr. Sibal submitted. Counsel for Uttarakhand said FIRs had been filed in the case of earlier events of similar nature. He said two communities “who are at loggerheads with each other” were both holding such events. The State had taken action in the past without any communal bias.  We do not know what they will say in their speeches…But we are taking steps…Your lordships may have faith in us,” the lawyer said. The Court’s warning to the two states comes in the wake of several such soirees being held by Hindu religious organisations where hate speeches have been made by self-syled “gurus”, leading to unease and discomfort in the society. The report on the terse warning is the lead in The Hindu and serves to remind the state of its constitutional duty to protect the right to live with dignity. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more.  [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Buying free speech: On Elon Musk’s Twitter buyÂ]( [Arrow][Myopic view: On sports and politics]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz On April 22, which country described the territory called the Kuril Islands as being under the “illegal occupation” of Russia? - Mongolia - Finland  - Japan  - Ukraine To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( Today’s Best Reads [[11 die in high-voltage electrocution during a procession near Thanjavur] 11 die in high-voltage electrocution during a procession near Thanjavur]( [[Is ideological political divide set to enter the Tamil film industry?] Is ideological political divide set to enter the Tamil film industry?]( [[India needs a plan so we are not vulnerable to the ‘splinternet’: Rajeev Chandrasekhar] India needs a plan so we are not vulnerable to the ‘splinternet’: Rajeev Chandrasekhar]( [[‘Indianness’ is India’s only caste, says PM Modi] ‘Indianness’ is India’s only caste, says PM Modi]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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