Nuh aftermath: Ensure no violence or hate speech made during VHP rallies, SC directs authorities in Delhi, UP and Haryana

In the wake of communal clashes in Nuh and Gurugram districts of Haryana, the Supreme Court has directed authorities of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to ensure no hate speech is targeted against any community and no violence takes place during the Vishwa Hindu Parishad rallies.

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ON Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed authorities to ensure that the planned Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) protests against the communal flare-up that has erupted in Haryana's Nuh district stay violence-free.

A two-judge Bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S.V. Bhatti passed these directions to law and order authorities in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

The Bench also directed authorities to ensure that no property is damaged during protest marches and no hate speech directed at any community is made.

State governments have been asked to deploy additional forces where needed and to conduct video recording of the events in all sensitive areas.

The Bench was hearing an application against the proposed rallies by the VHP in Delhi today. 

The matter was placed before a Bench headed by Justice Khanna on the administrative directions of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, after the application was mentioned before him this morning.

The application was filed by one Shaheen Adbulla and argued by senior advocate C.U. Singh.

The application also urged the court to issue directions for taking down all videos, posts, programmes, etc. in relation with the incidents that have taken place in Nuh and Gurugram districts of Haryana that are spreading misinformation and inciting communal disharmony through social media platforms.

Though the Bench did not pass any Order interdicting the proposed rallies by Bajrang Dal and VHP, it called upon authorities to ensure no violence and hate speech take place.

The Bench also reiterated the Order passed by the Supreme Court on October 21, 2022, when it directed suo motu registration of complaints against makers of hate speech even if no formal complaint had been lodged.

In that Order, delivered by a Bench comprising Justices K. M. Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy, the court had also directed proceeding against the offenders in such cases in accordance with law even in the absence of a formal complaint.

The court had said: "Any hesitation to act in accordance with this direction will be viewed as contempt of this court and appropriate action will be taken against erring officers. 

"We further make it clear that such action will be taken irrespective of the religion that the maker of the speech or the person who commits such act belongs to, so that the secular character of Bharat as envisaged by the Preamble, is preserved and protected."

Click here to read the order.