Background 

An appeal has been made to the Supreme Court, claiming the distribution of false information through internet posts, pictures, and programs, against the backdrop of the communal unrest that broke out in Nuh and Gurgaon. The petition asks for instructions to have any content linked to the events in Nuh and Gurgaon that spread false information and stir up racial unrest removed from all social media sites. The Supreme Court heard the petition in a hurry after it was filed in opposition to the planned protests by the Bajrang Dal and VHP in Delhi NCR. An urgent appeal was filed to halt the alleged demonstrations after it was learned that VHP and Bajrang Dal activists planned to stage protests against the recent acts of racial violence in Nuh and other areas of Haryana. As a result, the Supreme Court scheduled a special session to consider the case.

Conclusion of the Court 

While rejecting the stay, the division bench of Supreme Court Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S.V. Bhatti ordered the police to make sure that there are no violent incidents or instances of hate speech during the protest marches in Delhi-NCR.

The Court also instructed the authorities to video record protest rallies taking place in sensitive regions and preserve the film of the same, in addition to directing police authorities to use sufficient force to prevent violence and hate speech in protest rallies. The Bench said that the State Governments, including the police authorities, will make sure that there are no hate speeches against any community and that there is no violence or property damage. Adequate police or paramilitary troops must be deployed wherever necessary. Additionally, authorities are expected to utilise CCTV cameras wherever they are installed or to record video in all critical locations as needed. Videos and CCTV footage will be kept.