Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka was seen tearing the Bill in protest.
Published Dec 18, 2025 | 4:49 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 18, 2025 | 4:49 PM
Bill aims to curb and prevent the dissemination, publication or promotion of hate speech and crimes, which cause disharmony, hatred in society.
Synopsis: Home Minister G Parameshwara had initiated the discussion on the Bill and explained its provisions. The provision for ten years jail term in the event of repeated offence has been reduced to seven years, Parameshwara said.
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Thursday, 18 December, passed the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill 2025, amid uproar and protest by the opposition.
Home Minister G Parameshwara had initiated the discussion on the Bill and explained its provisions. The provision for ten years jail term in the event of repeated offence has been reduced to seven years, Parameshwara said.
War of words erupted after the Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh said coastal Karnataka is “burning” due to hate speech and hate crime. His remarks drew strong criticism from BJP leaders, who trooped in to the well of the house.
However, the Bill was passed in the assembly amid the din. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka was also seen tearing the Bill in protest.
The draft explained the Bill. “A Bill to curb and prevent dissemination, publication or promotion of hate speech and crimes, which cause disharmony, hatred in society, against the person or group of persons, organisations, and provide punishment for such crimes and to provide adequate compensation to the injured victims. Whereas it is expedient to curb and prevent dissemination, publication or promotion of hate speech and crimes, which cause disharmony, hatred in the society, against the person or group of persons, organisations, and provide punishment to such crimes and to provide adequate compensation to the injured victims and for matters connected therewith for the purposes hereinafter appearing.”
The definition of ‘Hate Speech,’ “includes any expression made, published, or circulated, in words either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations, or through electronic communication, or otherwise, in public view, with an intention to cause injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against person alive or dead, class or group of persons or community, to meet any prejudicial interest;
‘Prejudicial interest’ means and includes the bias on the grounds of-
(a) religion, (b) race, (c) caste or community; (d) sex, (e) gender, (f) sexual orientation, (g) place of birth, (h) residence, (i) language, (j) disability, or (k) tribe;
‘Hate Crime’ has been defined as “means communication of hate speech, by making, publishing or circulating or any act of promoting, propagating, inciting or abetting or attempting, such hate speech, to cause disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against any person dead or alive or group of persons or organisation.”
The punishment for hate crimes mooted in the Bill is as follows.
(1) Whoever,- (i) commits hate crime shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year, which may extend to seven years with a fine of ₹50,000/-; and (ii) for any subsequent or repetative offences the punishment shall not be less than two years, which may extend to seven years with fine of ₹1,00,000/-.
(2) The Court may award adequate compensation to the victim by calculating the injury caused due to a hate crime, depending upon the gravity of the impact of the crime.
(3) The offences under this Act shall be cognizable, non-bailable and triable by the Judicial Magistrate First Class.
(4) The said provisions shall not extend to any book, pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting representation or figure in electronic form or otherwise the publication of which is proved to be justified as being for the public good on the ground that such book, pamphlet, paper, writing drawing, painting representation or figure is in the interest of science, literature, art or learning or other objects of general concern; or which is kept or used for bona fide heritage or religious purposes.
(With inputs from Anisha Reddy)
