Feature Image: Left - Justice, Right - Representative
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (29 March 2023) was hearing a plea regarding alleged hate speech made against Muslims in rallies across Maharashtra.
Reports noted that the hearing saw a heated exchange between Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre and judges Joseph and Nagarathna.
SG Tushar Mehta wanted to include other instances of hate speech to this petition.
Bar and Bench which reported the proceedings stated that when SG Tushar Mehta mentioned about a DMK leader calling for the butchering of Brahmins, Justice Joseph apparently smiled to which the SG retorted saying that it is not a matter to be laughed at. The SG was reportedly making a reference to the speech made by DMK spokesperson Rajiv Gandhi who had said that Tamil Brahmins should have been killed as per the directions of EV.
Justice Nagarathna asked the SG what made the DMK leader say so.
“Do you know who is Periyar?”, Justice Joseph reportedly asked the SG to which the latter noted that just because a hate speech is said by someone famous, it cannot be pardoned.
SG: Please hear this clip from Kerala. This is shocking. It should shock the conscience of this court. A child has been used to say this
..we should be embarrassed…he says Hindus and Christians should prepare for final rites…Justice Joseph: yes yes we know..
SG: Then you…
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) March 29, 2023
When the SG urged the justices to take a look at te video of a child in a PFI rally in Kerala raising slogans calling for preparation for the last rites of Hindus and Christians, Justice Joseph said “yes yes we know..”.
“Then you should have taken suo Motu cognisance” said the SG to which Justice Nagarathna responded “there are cracks in the idea of fraternity”.
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