BELAGAVI – In a move that makes Karnataka the first state in India to enact a dedicated law against hate speech, the Legislative Assembly passed the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025 on Thursday. The law introduces stringent jail terms of up to 10 years and grants the state sweeping powers to block online content.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Passing of the Bill
The bill was introduced by Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara, who cited a May 2025 Supreme Court judgment emphasizing the need for statutory definitions of hate speech. The passage occurred amidst chaos; BJP members were protesting in the well of the House against Minister B.S. Suresh’s remarks regarding representatives from coastal Karnataka. Taking advantage of the protest, the government moved to pass the bill via voice vote before Speaker U.T. Khader adjourned the House for lunch.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The new legislation moves beyond the existing Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by specifically defining “Hate Speech” and “Hate Crimes.”
-
Stringent Punishment: * First-time offenders: 1 to 7 years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹50,000.
-
Repeat offenders: A mandatory minimum of 2 years, extending up to 10 years in prison, and a fine of ₹1,00,000.
-
-
Broad Definition: Hate speech is defined as any expression (spoken, written, signs, or electronic) intended to cause disharmony or hatred based on religion, race, caste, community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability, or tribe.
-
Collective Liability: If an organization is involved in promoting hate speech, its leadership (office bearers) can be held criminally liable.
-
Content Takedown Powers: The state can now legally direct service providers and social media intermediaries to block or remove “hate crime materials” from their platforms.
-
Victim Compensation: The law mandates that the court award adequate compensation to victims for injuries or harm caused by hate speech.
Political Reaction & Controversy
The opposition has slammed the bill as a “tool for censorship.” Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated that the BJP would challenge the law in court, calling it an “Emergency-like” measure designed to stifle dissent against the ruling party.
Civil society groups have also expressed concern over the “onus of proof,” which shifts to the accused in cases of collective liability, and the broad definition of “disharmony” which they fear could be misused by local police.
