{"id":240325,"date":"2020-12-08T15:22:10","date_gmt":"2020-12-08T09:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=240325"},"modified":"2021-01-06T12:32:53","modified_gmt":"2021-01-06T07:02:53","slug":"freedom-rights-cannot-armour-those-who-promote-incite-violence-15-notable-excerpts-on-hate-speech-from-supreme-courts-verdict-in-amish-devgan-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/12\/08\/freedom-rights-cannot-armour-those-who-promote-incite-violence-15-notable-excerpts-on-hate-speech-from-supreme-courts-verdict-in-amish-devgan-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Freedom & rights cannot armour those who promote & incite violence| 15 notable excerpts on ‘hate speech’ from Supreme Court’s verdict in Amish Devgan case"},"content":{"rendered":"

Supreme Court<\/strong>: The bench of AM Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna, JJ <\/strong>refused to quash the FIRs registered against News18 Journalist Amish Devgan f<\/a>or using the term \u201cLootera Chisti\u201d in one of his shows but has granted interim protection to him against arrest subject to his joining and cooperating in investigation till completion of the investigation.<\/p>\n

While holding this, the bench made an attempt to define \u201chate speech\u201d albeit it was of the opinion that a universal definition of \u2018hate speech\u2019 remains difficult, except for one commonality that \u2018incitement to violence\u2019 is punishable.<\/p>\n

Here are 15 notable excerpts from the judgment that runs to 128 pages:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Criminality would not include insults to religion offered unwittingly, carelessly or without deliberate or malicious intent to outrage the religious feelings. Only aggravated form of insult to religion when it is perpetuated with deliberate and malicious intent to outrage the religious feelings of that group is punishable. [1]<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Criticism and comments on government\u2019s action in howsoever strong words would not attract penal action as they would fall within the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression.<\/span>[2]<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. \n

    Dissent and criticism of the elected government\u2019s policy, when puissant, deceptive or even false would be ethically wrong, but would not invite penal action. Elected representatives in power have the right to respond and dispel suspicion. The \u2018market place of ideas\u2019 and \u2018pursuit of truth\u2019 principle are fully applicable. Government should be left out from adjudicating what is true or false, good or bad, valid or invalid as these aspects should be left for open discussion in the public domain. (\u2026) Political speech relating to government policies requires greater protection for preservation and promotion of democracy. Falsity of the accusation would not be sufficient to constitute criminal offence of \u2018hate speech\u2019.<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  4. Security of the State, public order and law and order represent three concentric circles: law and order being the widest, within which is the next circle representing public order and the smallest circle represents the security of the State. The phrase \u2018security of the State\u2019 is nothing less than endangering the foundations of the State or threatening its overthrow. It includes events that have national significance or upheavals, such as revolution, civil strife, war, affecting security of the State but excludes breaches of purely local significance. The phrase \u2018minor breaches\u2019 refers to public inconvenience, annoyance or unrest. The phrase \u2018in the interest of…public order\u2019, in the context of clause (2) to Article 19, would mean breaches of purely local significance, embracing a variety of conduct destroying or menacing public order.[3]<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. \n

    A speech by \u2018a person of influence\u2019 such as a top government or executive functionary, opposition leader, political or social leader of following, or a credible anchor on a T.V. show carries a far more credibility and impact than a statement made by a common person on the street. (\u2026)The reasonable-man\u2019s test would always take into consideration the maker. (\u2026) This is not to say that persons of influence like journalists do not enjoy the same freedom of speech and expression as other citizens, as this would be grossly incorrect understanding of what has been stated above. This is not to dilute satisfaction of the three elements, albeit to accept importance of \u2018who\u2019 when we examine \u2018harm or impact element\u2019 and in a given case even \u2018intent\u2019 and\/or \u2018content element\u2019.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  6. The terms \u2018public order\u2019 and \u2018public tranquillity\u2019 do overlap to some extent but are not always synonymous as \u2018public tranquillity\u2019 is a much wider expression and it\u2019s breach may even include things that cannot be described as public disorder. (\u2026) For breach of public order, it is not necessary that the act should endanger the security of the State, which is a far stricter test, but would not include every kind of disturbance of society. Accepting that \u2018law and order\u2019 represents the largest circle within which is the next circle representing \u2018public order\u2019 and inside that the smallest circle representing the \u2018security of the State\u2019 is situated, it was observed that State is at the centre and the society surrounds it. Disturbances of society can fall under broad spectrum ranging from disturbance of serenity of life to jeopardy of the State. Therefore, the journey travels first through public tranquillity then through public order and lastly to the security of the State.[4]<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. \n

    Public order would embrace more of the community than law and order. Public order refers to the even tempo of the life of the community taking the country as a whole or even a specified locality.[5]<\/a> (…) The test which is to be examined in each case is whether the act would lead to disturbance of the current life of the community so as to amount to disturbance of public order, or does it affect merely an individual leaving the tranquillity of the society undisturbed. The latter is not covered under and restriction must meet the test of ordre publique affecting the community in the locality.<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  8. Dignity is a part of the individual rights that form the fundamental fulcrum of collective harmony and interest of a society. While right to speech and expression is absolutely sacrosanct in the sense that it is essential for individual growth and progress of democracy which recognises voice of dissent, tolerance for discordant notes and acceptance of different voices, albeit the right to equality under Article 14 and right to dignity as a part of Article 21 have their own significance.<\/span>[6]<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  9. \n

    Individual dignity can be achieved in a regime which recognises equality with other citizens regardless of one\u2019s religious beliefs or the group to which one belongs. Religious beliefs and faiths ensure wider acceptance of human dignity and liberty, but when conflict arises between the two, the quest for human dignity, liberty and equality must prevail.[7]<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  10. Dignity of individual and unity and integrity of the nation are linked, one in the form of rights of individuals and other in the form of individual\u2019s obligation to others to ensure unity and integrity of the nation. The unity and integrity of the nation cannot be overlooked and slighted, as the acts that \u2018promote\u2019 or are \u2018likely\u2019 to \u2018promote\u2019 divisiveness, alienation and schematism do directly and indirectly impinge on the diversity and pluralism, and when they are with the objective and intent to cause public disorder or to demean dignity of the targeted groups, they have to be dealt with as per law. The purpose is not to curtail right to expression and speech, albeit not gloss over specific egregious threats to public disorder and in particular the unity and integrity of the nation.<\/li>\n
  11. \n

    To ensure maximisation of free speech and not create \u2018free speaker\u2019s burden\u2019, the assessment should be from the perspective of the top of the reasonable member of the public, excluding and disregarding sensitive, emotional and atypical. (\u2026) This does not mean exclusion of particular circumstances as frequently different persons acting reasonably will respond in different ways in the context and circumstances. This means taking into account peculiarities of the situation and occasion and whether the group is likely to get offended. At the same time, a tolerant society is entitled to expect tolerance as they are bound to extend to others.<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  12. Freedom and rights cannot extend to create public disorder or armour those who challenge integrity and unity of the country or promote and incite violence. Without acceptable public order, freedom to speak and express is challenged and would get restricted for the common masses and law-abiding citizens. This invariably leads to State response and, therefore, those who indulge in promotion and incitement of violence to challenge unity and integrity of the nation or public disorder tend to trample upon liberty and freedom of others.<\/span><\/li>\n
  13. \n

    Communities with a history of deprivation, oppression, and persecution may sometimes speak in relation to their lived experiences, resulting in the words and tone being harsher and more critical than usual. Their historical experience often comes to be accepted by the society as the rule, resulting in their words losing the gravity that they otherwise deserve. (\u2026) Such speech should be viewed not from the position of a person of privilege or a community without such a historical experience, but rather, the courts should be more circumspect when penalising such speech. This is recognition of the denial of dignity in the past, and the effort should be reconciliatory.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  14. Loss of dignity and selfworth of the targeted group members contributes to disharmony amongst groups, erodes tolerance and open-mindedness which are a must for multi-cultural society committed to the idea of equality. It is however necessary that at least two groups or communities must be involved; merely referring to feelings of one community or group without any reference to any other community or group does not attract the \u2018hate speech\u2019 definition.<\/span><\/li>\n
  15. \n

    There are multiple justifications for \u2018tolerance\u2019, which include respect for autonomy; a general commitment to pacifism; concern for other virtues such as kindness and generosity; pedagogical concerns; a desire for reciprocity; and a sense of modesty about one\u2019s ability to judge the beliefs and actions of others. However, tolerance cannot be equated with appeasement, permissiveness, or indifference. It is also not identical to neutrality. Toleration requires self-consciousness and self-control in a sense that it is a restraint of negative judgment that is free and deliberate. It implies no lack of commitment to one\u2019s own belief but rather it condemns oppression or persecution of others.<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    [Amish Devgan v. Union of India, 2020 SCC OnLine SC 994<\/b><\/a>, decided on 07.12.2020]<\/p>\n

    \n

    *Justice Sanjiv Khanna has penned this judgment\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    [1]<\/a> Ramji Lal Modi v. State of UP, AIR 1957 SC 620<\/p>\n

    [2]<\/a> Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar, AIR 1962 SC 955<\/p>\n

    [3]<\/a> Superintendent, Central Prison, Fatehgarh v. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, AIR 1960 SC 633<\/p>\n

    [4]<\/a> Madhu Limaye v. Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Monghyr, (1970) 3 SCC 746<\/p>\n

    [5]<\/a> Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, (2015) 5 SCC 1<\/p>\n

    [6]<\/a> Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India, (2016) 7 SCC 221<\/p>\n

    [7]<\/a> India Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala, (2019) 11 SCC 1<\/p>\n

    Also read: SC refuses to quash FIRs for remarks on Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti but Amish Devgan not to be arrested pending investigation<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    “In a polity committed to pluralism, hate speech cannot conceivably contribute in any legitimate way to democracy and, in fact, repudiates the right to equality.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":239472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9],"tags":[44371,2812,3623,3483,2651,44369,17941,44370],"class_list":["post-240325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-supremecourt","tag-criticism","tag-defamation","tag-freedom_of_speech","tag-freedom_of_speech_and_expression","tag-hate_speech","tag-notable-excerpts","tag-public-order","tag-religious-harmony"],"yoast_head":"\nFreedom & rights cannot armour those who promote & incite violence| 15 notable excerpts on 'hate speech' from Supreme Court's verdict in Amish Devgan case | SCC 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not to be arrested pending investigation","author":"Prachi Bhardwaj","date":"December 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Supreme Court: The 2-judge bench of AM Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna, JJ has refused to quash the FIRs registered against News18 Journalist Amish Devgan for using the term \u201cLootera Chisti\u201d in one of his shows but has granted interim protection to him against arrest subject to his joining and cooperating\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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Holey for allegedly creating hatred and enmity between different religious communities, the Division Bench comprising of M.S. Karnik and S.S. Shinde, JJ., held that, \u201cThe right to express one\u2019s views is a protected\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Bombay-HC.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":240965,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/12\/19\/fir-is-not-a-detailed-chronicle-of-all-intricate-and-minute-details-of-an-offence-supreme-court-read-what-a-valid-fir-is\/","url_meta":{"origin":240325,"position":2},"title":"FIR is not a detailed chronicle of all intricate and minute details of an offence: Supreme Court [Read what a valid FIR is]","author":"Prachi Bhardwaj","date":"December 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Supreme Court: The bench of AM Khanwilkar and\u00a0Sanjiv Khanna, JJ has held that the\u00a0true test of a valid FIR is only whether the information furnished provides reason to suspect the commission of an offence which the police officer concerned is empowered under Section 156(1) of the Criminal Code to investigate.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/sc-07-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/sc-07-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/sc-07-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/sc-07-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/sc-07-2.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":231913,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/07\/08\/sc-extends-stay-on-coercive-action-against-amish-devgan-for-remarks-on-sufi-saint-khwaja-moinuddin-chisti\/","url_meta":{"origin":240325,"position":3},"title":"SC extends stay on coercive action against Amish Devgan for remarks on Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti","author":"Prachi Bhardwaj","date":"July 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Supreme Court: The bench of AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari, JJ has extended it's order directing no coercive action to be taken against TV news anchor Amish Devgan in multiple FIRs lodged in several states over his alleged defamatory statements against Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti during a News Debate.\u00a0The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":231452,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/06\/26\/stay-on-coercive-action-against-amish-devgan-for-remarks-on-sufi-saint-khwaja-moinuddin-chisti\/","url_meta":{"origin":240325,"position":4},"title":"Stay on coercive action against Amish Devgan for remarks on Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti","author":"Prachi Bhardwaj","date":"June 26, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Supreme Court: The bench of AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari, JJ has directed that no coercive action is to be taken against TV news anchor Amish Devgan in multiple FIRs lodged in several states over his alleged defamatory statements against Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti during a News Debate. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":232298,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2020\/07\/15\/stay-on-coercive-action-against-amish-devgan-for-remarks-on-sufi-saint-khwaja-moinuddin-chisti-extended-till-august-5\/","url_meta":{"origin":240325,"position":5},"title":"Stay on coercive action against Amish Devgan for remarks on Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti extended till August 5","author":"Prachi Bhardwaj","date":"July 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Supreme Court: The 3-judge bench of AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna, JJ has yet again extended it\u2019s order directing no coercive action to be taken against TV news anchor Amish Devgan in multiple FIRs lodged in several states over his alleged defamatory statements against Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Case Briefs"","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/121"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=240325"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240325\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/239472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=240325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=240325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=240325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}