₹5,000 fine or 3-year jail: Karnataka passes landmark hate speech bill

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : Karnataka's Siddaramaiah government passed a key law on Wednesday during the ongoing winter session of the Legislative Assembly in Belagavi. The "Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crime (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2025" is now moving closer to becoming law after being approved by the House. The government claims the bill will play a key role in curbing the growing incidents of hatred, discrimination, and violence in the state.

The government says that in the digital age, hateful content spreads rapidly, and the need for a stricter law has long been felt. According to this bill, any person who causes harm to, or incites harm to, or spreads hatred against another person on grounds of prejudice or intolerance against that person's religion, caste, community, sex, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability, or tribe will be guilty of a hate crime.

It states, “Whoever commits a hate crime shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with a fine which may extend to ₹5,000, or with both. The offence of hate crime shall be non-cognizable and non-bailable and shall be tried by a Magistrate of the First Class.”

The bill also states that any person who intentionally publishes, disseminates, or advocates anything or communicates to one or more persons in a manner that clearly indicates that the intention is to cause harm or incites to cause harm or spreads hatred on grounds of any of these grounds, including religion, caste, language, community, or others, shall be punishable. This includes persons who produce or make available electronic communication material that is accessible to anyone and is delivered to or directed at a particular person who may be considered a victim of hate speech.