'Unmanageable Directions': SC Junks Plea That Alleged States Are Not Following Guidelines to Prevent Hate Crimes

Back in 2018, the apex court had issued a slew of preventive measures as directions to states to prevent the crime of mob lynching and hate speeches.

The Wire Staff

Back in 2018, the apex court had issued a slew of preventive measures as directions to states to prevent the crime of mob lynching and hate speeches.

unmanageable directions sc junks plea that alleged states are not following guidelines to prevent hate crimes

The Supreme Court of India building. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

New Delhi: While hearing a contempt petition alleging that states were not complying with the directions issued in 2018 by the Supreme Court to curb mob lynching and hate crimes, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday (February 23) remarked that the court should be careful in issuing directions which are “unmanageable”, reported LiveLaw.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a contempt petition filed by Samastha Kerala Jamiat-ul-Ulema which alleged that states were not complying with directions the directions issued in the 2018 judgment in Tehseen Poonawala v. Union of India case.

"Firstly, the Court should be very careful in issuing directions which are unmanageable directions . In any case, if we issue directions, those are on general principles that we tell, we expect people to be aware of," said CJI Kant.

He added that the directions issued were general in nature and a contempt plea should be filed if an individual's rights were affected.

The CJI stated that the contempt petition could have been moved in case of individual grievances, based on specific facts, reported LiveLaw.

Back in 2018, in relation to the Tehseen Poonawala v. Union of India case, the Supreme Court had directed the Parliament to consider the need to make a law on mob lynching. The apex court had also issued a slew of preventive measures as directions to prevent the crime of mob lynching and hate speeches.

One such measure included required the state government to set up a special task force to get information on persons perpetrating the crimes of mob lynching as well as spreading hate speeches, provocative statements and fake news. The bench on Monday dismissed the contempt petition with liberty to the petitioners to avail the legal remedy available in law.

This article went live on February twenty-fourth, two thousand twenty six, at thirty-seven minutes past five in the evening.

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