Overview
- The Congress-led cabinet approved the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, and a separate Social Boycott Bill, with both slated to be tabled in the Winter Session at Belagavi.
- The hate speech bill defines hate speech and hate crimes across protected categories including religion, caste, language, disability, gender and sexual orientation, with penalties of one to seven years for a first offence and two to ten years for repeat offences plus fines.
- Reports differ on procedure, with some describing the offences as cognisable and non-bailable and others as non-cognisable and non-bailable, with cases triable by a Judicial Magistrate First Class to be clarified in the legislative text.
- Liability extends to organisations and digital intermediaries, and a designated state officer may order platforms and service providers to block or remove offending content, alongside preventive powers for magistrates to restrict gatherings or loudspeakers when tensions are anticipated.
- Victim-centred measures include formal victim impact statements, while the social boycott bill proposes up to three years’ imprisonment and a ₹1 lakh fine and provides for appointment of a social boycott prohibition officer.