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) said hate speech and rumour-mongering corrupt the sense of fraternity and secularism in society while asking the Centre to consider bringing any specific laws to address the bane.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said prior sanction was not necessary for a Magistrate to take cognisance of a complaint about hate speech.