Supreme Court says enforcement of existing laws, not new laws, needed to combat hate speech and crimes

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, while saying that hate speech and rumour-mongering are corrupting the sense of brotherhood and secularism in society, asked the Center to consider bringing in any special legislation to address this scourge.

Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta of the Bench said prior sanction was not required for a Magistrate to entertain a complaint regarding hate speech.