SC Asks Harsh Mander to Respond to Allegations of Hate Speeches

Harsh Mander had sought action against BJP leaders for hate speech.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

The Supreme Court on Friday, 6 March, asked activist Harsh Mander to file his response to the allegation by the Delhi Police that he had also delivered hate speeches during anti-CAA protests in Delhi.

The top court, however, made it clear that it had not issued a contempt notice to Mander and said it would hear the plea on 15 April, PTI reported.

The Delhi Police, in its plea filed on Wednesday, had sought initiation of contempt proceedings against Mander for his alleged derogatory remarks, making insinuations against the apex court and its judges.

Appearing for Mander, senior advocate Dushyant Dave said he had perused the statement attributed to the activist and found nothing contemptuous and objectionable in those, PTI reported.

The affidavit has been filed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Legal Cell) Rajesh Deo, the police official who was present in Delhi High Court when Justice Muralidhar took up Mander’s petition and berated the police for failure to register FIRs for hate speech.

Deo states he has “come across a video clip showing Harsh Mander delivering a speech which is not only instigating the violence but is also seriously contemptuous as it makes derogatory remarks against the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to a huge gathering of people.”

Delhi Police’s affidavit claims Mander “is known for taking contemptuous stand and bringing the judiciary, as an institution and individual judges to disrepute.”

CJI Asks for Transcript of Harsh Mander’s Speech Against SC

On Wednesday afternoon, as the SC kept the hearing of allegations of hate speech against activist Harsh Mander to itself, the CJI asked for transcript of his speech where he allegedly incited people against the apex court, saying he has “no faith in SC”.

Mander’s lawyer Karuna Nundy denied the allegations in the court and said the police had not provided any notice of the same to Mander. The court decided to issue notice over Mander's speech and wants to hear his response on the same on 6 March.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, brought to the notice of a Bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde the alleged contentious speech made by Mander.

SC made clear that it won’t hear Mander’s petition in BJP leaders’ hate speech case unless his comments against the judiciary are sorted out.

“This is what you think of this court. Before we hear you (counsel for Mander), you see the allegations and respond to them,” PTI quoted the Bench as saying.

“We have been told that you have made certain remarks against this court,” the Bench added, saying it wants to know all that have violated “the majesty of law”.

(With inputs from PTI)