Hate Speech

In a significant stance on Constitutional equality, the Supreme Court declined a plea to recognize "Brahmophobia" as a separate category of hate speech, directing petitioners to rely on existing penal laws instead.

In a decisive hearing on February 21, 2026, the Supreme Court compelled the Uttar Pradesh authorities to reclassify the 2021 assault on cleric Kazeem Ahmed Sherwani. By mandating the inclusion of hate speech provisions, the Court highlighted systemic failures in the initial UP Police hate crime investigation and reinforced the necessity of labeling communal violence accurately.

The Supreme Court has declined to entertain petitions seeking action against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, holding that litigants must first approach the High Court and cautioning against shortcut litigation.