SC reserves order on pleas seeking directions to curb hate speech

New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its order on a batch of petitions seeking directions for effective action against incidents of hate speech nationwide. A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, reserving the order, directed the parties to file brief written submissions within two weeks. The petitions are being heard in the backdrop of the Court’s earlier directions mandating that whenever speech or conduct attracts offences under provisions such as Sections 153A, 153B, 295A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code, authorities must take suo motu action to register cases and proceed against offenders, even in the absence of a formal complaint.