SC junks plea on hate speeches during election

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) The Supreme Court Thursday dismissed a PIL seeking direction to the Election Commission to take action against all the politicians who delivered hate speeches during campaigning.

Dismissing the PIL, the apex court bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice N.V. Ramana said: "We are not persuaded despite the lengthy and ambitious arguments advanced by the petitioner to issue notice and directive (to the Election Commission)."

Tracing the evolution of the PIL, the court said: "... a PIL pertaining to the speeches delivered during election campaign, we are afraid, can't be put on a pedestal of a real PIL."

Pronouncing the order, Justice Misra said: "In the name of a constitutional safeguard, entering into this kind of arena, in our convinced opinion, would not be within the constitutional parameters."

Petitioner advocate Jafar Imam Naqvi had sought direction to the Election Commission to take action against the leaders who delivered hate speeches during electioneering.

The petitioner had also sought the derecognition of the parties whose leaders invoked hatred against other communities in their speeches.