Hate speech row: SC to segregate fake, biased news cases from hate-mongering statements
India Today
The Supreme Court has decided to separate all cases related to public statements, Facebook/Twitter posts, biased reporting by media houses, and regulation of OTT platforms to curb hate speeches and religious hate-mongering.
The Supreme Court has decided to segregate all cases related to public statements, Facebook/Twitter posts, reporting by media houses, and regulation of OTT platforms to curb hate speeches and religious hate-mongering. Petitions challenging online media rules will also be segregated. More than 100 such cases are pending before the apex court.
The Solicitor General on Monday submitted a list of all cases of hate speeches at public events, social media, and news channels.
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“Eighteen writ petitions have been filed wherein notices were issued. We have provided for the regulation of OTT platforms, intermediaries and online media, but high courts in Kerala, Delhi, and Bombay have issued stay orders,” the SG said.
To this, the SC bench headed by Justice Khanwilkar said: “We will issue notices in all the cases and then pass appropriate orders after the summer vacation.”
Senior advocate KV Vishwanathan pointed out several petitions had been filed even before the Digital Media and Intermediary Rules were created.
“Those petitions have become infructuous. We can either ask the high courts to hear them or we can dispose of them via a common order,” the SC said.
