Bengaluru: The Karnataka Assembly has passed the hate speech bill on 18 December. The legislation, cleared by the state cabinet on 4 December, was introduced by State Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara.
Under the new law, hate speech has been defined broadly to include spoken, written, visual or electronic expressions made in public with the intent to promote hatred, enmity or disharmony against individuals or groups.
As per Parameshwara, the maximum punishment for repeat offences had been reduced from the originally proposed 10 years to seven years. First-time offenders can face imprisonment of one to seven years along with a fine of Rs 50,000, while repeat offenders will attract stricter penalties.
The bill makes hate speech a cognisable and non-bailable offence, triable by a Judicial Magistrate First Class and also provides for victim compensation. It holds organisations accountable by fixing liability on those in charge at the time of the offence.
Exemptions have been provided for publications in the public interest, good-faith actions by public servants and materials related to heritage or religion.
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