'7 years in jail and a fine of 50,000', 'Hate Speech Bill' passed in Karnataka Assembly amidst BJP opposition

Bangalore: (Agency) Despite strong opposition from opposition parties BJP and JDS, the Congress government passed the 'Karnataka Hate Speech Bill' on Wednesday (December 17) during the ongoing Karnataka Assembly winter session in Belgaum. As soon as the bill was passed, a huge ruckus was seen in the House. The bill defines hate speech as a statement that is intended to harm or intimidate a person or group, create unrest in society, or promote hatred. It defines discriminatory behavior, hate speech, or crimes on 11 grounds, aiming to protect vulnerable sections of society.

According to the bill, hate crime is defined as hate speech communication, which includes creating, publishing, broadcasting, or disseminating material that may promote hostility or hatred in society. The bill states that communication means any expression made public, whether verbal, print, or electronic media, or any other means. Under the proposed law, a person convicted for the first time will face a minimum of one year in jail, which can be extended up to seven years, and a fine of Rs 50,000. For repeat offenses, the punishment will be a minimum of two years and a maximum of 10 years in jail, and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

The law will make crimes cognizable and non-bailable, and will be tried by a Judicial Magistrate First Class. The bill also grants powers to take preventive measures to maintain law and order. Under this, Executive Magistrates, Special Executive Magistrates, or police officers of the rank of DSP and above can take necessary action. Additionally, organizations or institutions will also be held liable for crimes committed by them. In such cases, the persons responsible at the time of the crime will be considered accused and can face legal action.

The bill also grants a designated officer the power to order service providers or intermediaries to block or remove hate crime-related content from their platforms. Courts will also have the power to award compensation to victims based on the severity of the crime and its impact. On the other hand, the BJP has launched a scathing attack on the Congress government over the bill, alleging that it is intended to stifle the voice of Hindus and can be used to target political opponents.