Telangana Cabinet clears Hate Speech and Parents Support Bills

The Telangana Cabinet approved a series of significant policy decisions, including draft legislations on hate speech and hate crime and Parents support Bill, which provides for deduction of 15% of salary from both government and private employees.

The Cabinet that met under chairmanship of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday (March 23) also approved changes to Gig and Platform Workers’ Welfare Act, Metro Rail take-over process, Independent Expert Working Group Report on Caste Survey, Telangana Advocate Protection Bill, and constitution of a sub-committee for Rohith Vemula Act framework.

The Cabinet gave its nod to the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crime Prevention Bill, 2026, designed to curb inflammatory speeches, social media posts and acts that disturb communal harmony or incite violence and clashes. The proposed legislation seeks to provide a legal framework to prevent and penalise hate-driven offences in the State.

Another notable decision was the Parents Support Bill, providing for deduction of 15% of salary or ₹10,000, whichever is lower, from public representatives and government or private employees who neglect their aged parents, with the deducted amount to be paid directly to the parents.

The Chief Minister had been repeatedly espousing this on public platforms while providing job letters to the newly-recruited employees. He kept his promise by bringing in the Bill giving a huge relief to parents.

The Cabinet also decided to fast-track measures to take over the existing 69-km Hyderabad Metro system from Larsen & Toubro. A sub-committee has already submitted a report stating that the government would need to pay approximately ₹15,000 crore, including liabilities, to acquire the Phase-I project.

The Cabinet authorised Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) to act as the nodal agency responsible for handling payments and transactions on behalf of the State government.

The Cabinet also approved the report submitted by an Independent Expert Working Group chaired by Justice (retired) Sudarshan Reddy on the caste survey conducted by the State government. The government had undertaken a comprehensive socio-economic and caste survey from November 6 to December 25, 2024, for empowerment of all sections. The Cabinet discussed the findings and entrusted a Cabinet Sub-Committee with the responsibility of examining the report in detail.

Another key decision was the formation of a ministerial sub-committee under Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to frame modalities for implementing the proposed Rohith Vemula Act aimed at preventing caste discrimination in educational institutions. Ministers Damodar Rajanarasimha, Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Uttam Kumar Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar will serve as members of the panel.

The Cabinet approved certain changes in the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2026 that proposes mandatory registration, the constitution of a Welfare Board and creation of a dedicated welfare fund for the estimated 4.2 lakh gig and platform workers in the State.

The Cabinet also approved the Telangana Advocate Protection Bill to curb attacks on lawyers and ensure their safety. The proposed law seeks to provide legal safeguards and enhanced protection for advocates.