In the midst of the heated Delhi assembly elections in 2020, a contentious issue arose as two prominent leaders faced accusations of delivering alleged hate speeches. These allegations surfaced during a time when the city was already gripped by protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Hate speeches during the Delhi Elections
Supreme Court’s Ruling
The Supreme Court, located in New Delhi, recently rendered a significant verdict on this matter. They opted to defer the hearing of a petition filed by CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat. This petition sought the initiation of a First Information Report (FIR) against two BJP leaders, Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma, for their alleged hate speeches during the 2020 Delhi riots. The rescheduled hearing is now slated for October 3.
The Bench and the Adjournment Request
This pivotal decision was issued by a bench consisting of Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal. The decision to postpone the hearing came following a request for adjournment made by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who was representing the Delhi Police.
Opposition to Further Delays
Notably, the petitioners strongly opposed the Delhi Police’s plea for an adjournment. The bench, taking a resolute stance, declared that no further adjournments would be granted to the Delhi Police in this particular case.
Decisive Bench’s Order
The bench’s ruling emphasized its determination: “The respondent’s request for an adjournment is contested by counsel for the petitioners. Notice has been duly issued. This petition must proceed to a hearing, and for that purpose, it is scheduled for October 3. No additional adjournments shall be granted to the respondent.”
Previous Actions and Verbal Remarks
It is important to highlight that the apex court had previously issued notice to the Delhi Police, soliciting their response. During earlier proceedings, the court orally noted that the Magistrate’s stance, which suggested that sanction might be required for filing FIRs against the two BJP leaders, may not be accurate.
