{"id":15400,"date":"2021-05-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/26-05-2021\/panel-to-define-hate-speech\/"},"modified":"2021-05-26T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T00:00:00","slug":"panel-to-define-hate-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/26-05-2021\/panel-to-define-hate-speech","title":{"rendered":"Panel to Define Hate Speech"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">A panel constituted by the Union Home Ministry to suggest reforms to the British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC) is likely to propose <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>a separate Section<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> on \u201coffences relating to speech and expression\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>About<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The committee is examining a gamut of subjects pertaining to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>reforms in the Indian Penal Code (IPC)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">As there is <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>no clear definition<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> of what constitutes a \u201chate speech\u201d in the IPC, the Committee for Reforms in Criminal Laws is attempting for the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>first time to define<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> such speech.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Instead of ad hoc changes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, it was decided that all the pending issues such as those on hate speech as recommended by the Viswanathan committee can be examined and <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>comprehensive changes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> are brought in.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Hate Speech<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">There is <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>no international legal definition<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> of hate speech, and the characterization of what is \u2018hateful\u2019 is controversial and disputed.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The term hate speech is understood as any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour, that attacks or <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>uses pejorative or discriminatory language<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> with reference to a person or a group based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Recent Attempts to Define Hate Speech in India<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>267th Report of the Law Commission<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> of India, hate speech is stated as an incitement to hatred primarily against a group of persons defined in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief and the like.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&#038;D) <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">recently published a manual for investigating agencies on <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>cyber harassment cases<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> that defined hate speech as a \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>language that denigrates, insults, threatens or targets <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">an individual based on their identity and other traits (such as sexual orientation or disability or religion etc.).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In 2019, the Ministry decided to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>overhaul the IPC<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, framed in 1860 and the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> after seeking suggestions from States, the Supreme Court, High Courts, the Bar Council of India, Bar Councils of States, universities and law institutes on comprehensive amendments to criminal laws.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Reasons for Hate Speech<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Hate speech occurs to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>undermine social equality<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> as it reaffirms historical marginalization and oppression.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is enacted to cause <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>psychological and physical harm<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> to its victims as it incites violence.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is used of provoke individuals or society to commit <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>acts of terrorism, genocides, ethnic cleansing<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is a tool to<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> create panic through rumour mongering <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">against targeted people. For example, Northeast exodus<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Provisions regarding Hate Speech<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Section 153A IPC<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> penalises \u2018promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Section 153B IPC<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> penalises \u2018imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Section 295A IPC<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> penalises \u2018deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Section 298 IPC<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> penalises \u2018uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Section 505 IPC<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> penalises publication or circulation of any statement, rumour or report causing public mischief and enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Part VII of the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Representation of People Act, 1951<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> classifies hate speech as an offence committed during elections into two categories: corrupt practices and electoral offences. The relevant provisions regarding hate speech in the RPA are <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Sections 8, 8A, 123(3), 123(3A) and 125<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In the realm of the hate speech debate, the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Model Code of Conduct<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> (MCC) assumes significance as Item 1 (General Conduct) of the MCC <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>prohibits <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">parties and candidates from making <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>any appeals to caste or communal feelings for securing votes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Various Committees and their Views<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\"><strong>T.K. Viswanathan<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\"> <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Committee\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\">The panel was formed after <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\"><strong>Section 66A<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\"> of the Information Technology Act, 2000, was scrapped by the Supreme Court in 2015 as it provided punishment for sending offensive messages through communication services.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\">It submitted a report recommending <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\"><strong>stricter laws to curb online hate speech<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\"> <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">and use of cyberspace to spread hatred and incitement.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">proposed inserting <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Sections 153 C (b) and Section 505 A <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">in the IPC for incitement to commit an offence on grounds of religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability or tribe. It proposed punishment by up to two years along with a ?5,000 fine.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\"><strong>Bezbaruah committee<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It was constituted by the Centre in February 2014 in the wake of a series of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>racial attacks <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">on persons belonging to the northeast.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\">It had proposed to insert<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\"><strong> two stricter anti-racial discrimination provisions<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\"> in the IPC.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\">The proposed amendment section 153C IPC (promoting or attempting to promote acts prejudicial to human dignity) would be punishable by five years and fine or both;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#282828\">Section 509 A IPC (word, gesture or act intended to insult members of a particular race) would be punishable by three years or fine or both.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Challenges in Tackling Hate Speech<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Difficult to Interpret:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> The word \u2018hate speech\u2019 is a tricky term, merely criticising someone is not hate speech. Legally speaking, for criminal Sections to be invoked, any such speech has to lead to violence or disturbance of law and order.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Dissent and criticism:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> The dissent and criticism of the elected government\u2019s policy, when deceptive or even false, could be ethically wrong, but it should not necessarily invite penal action.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Protecting Political Speech:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> The object of criminalising hate speech is to protect dignity and to ensure political and social equality between different identities and groups. However, political speech relating to government policies requires greater protection for preservation and promotion of democracy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Keeping Government Out:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> At the same time, the 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.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Defining intent and purpose:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> If someone discusses and speaks about controversial and sensitive topics relating to religion, caste, creed, etc. The question is primarily one of intent and purpose which is hard to define.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Conclusion<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The hate speech is often rooted in, and generates intolerance and hatred and, in certain contexts, can be <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>demeaning and divisive<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>menace to democratic values<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, social stability and peace. As a matter of principle, the government must confront hate speech at every turn.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">At the same time, addressing hate speech <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>does not mean limiting or prohibiting freedom of speech<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">. It means keeping hate speech from escalating into something more dangerous, particularly incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The government should bring <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>comprehensive amendments to criminal laws<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> to prevent hate speech and expression.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; table-layout:fixed; width:624px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color:#ffe599; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&#038;D)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Government of India formally established the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&#038;D), under the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Ministry of Home Affairs<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> giving a new orientation to then existing Police Research and Advisory Council (1966)\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The primary objective is the modernization of police force and other reasons are:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">To take direct and active interest in the issues<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">To promote a speedy and systematic study of the police problems,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">To apply science and technology in the methods and techniques used by police.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">During the year 2008, the Government of India further decided to create the National<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> Police Mission<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> under the administrative control of BPR&#038;D to transform the police forces in the country into effective instruments for maintenance of internal security and facing the challenges in future, by equipping them with the necessary material, intellectual and organizational resources.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/thehindu.com\/news\/national\/panel-to-define-offences-of-speech-expression\/article34644940.ece#:~:text=A%20panel%20constituted%20by%20the,relating%20to%20speech%20and%20expression.%E2%80%9D\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><u>TH<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In News A panel constituted by the Union Home Ministry to suggest reforms to the British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC) is likely to propose a separate Section on \u201coffences relating to speech and expression\u201d. About The committee is examining a gamut of subjects pertaining to reforms in the Indian Penal Code (IPC).\u00a0 As there is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[31,30],"class_list":["post-15400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-government-policies-interventions","tag-gs-2"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/671539current-affairs.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15400"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15400\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}