K'taka Assembly passes country's maiden anti-hate speech law; BJP calls it 'Brahmastra' against oppn
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the country's maiden anti-hate speech legislation, which the BJP termed as a "Brahmastra" against the opposition and the media with an eye on "vote bank politics".
The Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill was passed in the House amid din by the BJP MLAs, with the government referring to the Supreme Court observations against hateful remarks.
The bill has a provision for a fine up to Rs one lakh and a jail term up to seven years.
Home Minister G Parameshwara said the provision for 10 years jail term in the event of repeated offence has been reduced to seven years.
The bill, cleared by the cabinet on December 4 was presented in the House by Parameshwara on December 10.
According to the bill, any expression, which is made, published or circulated in words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication or otherwise, in public view, with an intention to cause injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against person alive or dead, class or group of persons or community, to meet any prejudicial interest, is hate speech.
While discussing the bill, Parameshwara said the Supreme Court had come down strongly against hate speech saying that it cannot be tolerated.
He said hate speech and hate crimes lead to murders, create social unrest and vitiate the society.
The minister pointed out that prejudices happen in the name of religion, language, disability, gender, sexual orientation, caste, race, the place of birth, tribe or residence.
"I think the law will bring a major change in the society," Parameshwara noted.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said the law will turn police into 'Hitler'.
It violates the constitutional provision of freedom of expression.
Even cartoons and pictures have not been spared. It will also attack the freedom of press and curb digital freedom, the BJP leader claimed.
"There will be rampant extortion. There will be no bail but only jail under this law. What else should we expect from those who imposed Emergency in this country," Ashoka said taking a swipe at the ruling Congress.
According to him, all the crimes mentioned in the law are already there in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the new Indian Penal Code but yet the Congress government in Karnataka has brought it.
"This is a Brahmastra (ultimate deadly weapon) against the opposition. We will be the first to bear the brunt of the law and next in the line will be the media. Ultimately, it is vote bank politics," the LoP charged.
He also said that there will be a need for more prisons in the state, "which the pauper government cannot afford".
Ashoka cautioned the ruling Congress that the law was not good for it as well and advised it to be cautious while giving passage to the bill.
BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar sought to know what if someone quotes hate contents from a book, which can be religious.
In reply, the Home Minister said those books published in the past will also be covered under the law.
Sunil Kumar said the minister was inviting trouble for himself as he would quote hate contents in the religious books.
Participating in the discussion, Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh claimed coastal Karnataka is "burning" due to hate speech and hate crime.
Enraged with the statement, BJP MLAs from coastal Karnataka such as Vedavyas Kamath, Harish Poonja, Sunil Kumar and several others took strong objection and demanded an apology.
They then trooped to the well of the House to press for their demand. Other BJP MLAs followed suit.
Amid the din, the bill was passed by the House, which was later adjourned.
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#WATCH | Belagavi, Karnataka | On Karnataka Assembly passes Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Prevention Bill, 2025, State Minister Priyank Kharge says, "The Supreme Court has laid down a very clear definition of hate speech. They have said hate speech should be curbed, correct? They… pic.twitter.com/3qTEjg86cd
— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2025
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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
