Telangana’s Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Bill referred to select committee as members raise concerns

In a development with few prcedents, the Telangana Legislative Assembly has referred a Bill on checking hate speeches causing disharmony to the select committee.

The contents of the Bill – The Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Act, 2026 – introduced in the House on Monday (March 30, 2026) caused considerable consternation among the Assembly members cutting across political lines and was referred to the select committee for detailed examination.

The Government introduced the Bill in the Assembly expressing concern over the discernable increase in incidents of hate speech and hate crimes which had the potential to spread rapidly and cause harm to public order and social harmony.

“Such acts promote enmity, hatred and disharmony among individuals and groups on grounds like religion, caste ethnicity, language, gender and other identities thereby undermining the constitutional values of equality, dignity and fraternity,” the Bill said. The existing framework, however, did not comprehensively address the evolving nature and manifestations of hate speech and hate crimes necessitating a dedicated and robust legislation to effectively prevent, regulate and penalise such conduct while also ensuring protection and redress the affect persons.

The Government therefore considered the legislation necessary to curb and prevent dissemination, publication or promotion of hate speech and hate crimes that incited disharmony or hatred in society against person, group of persons or organisations. It would provide for stringent and deterrent punishment for the commission of such offences and ensure adequate compensation to victims affected.

The Executive Magistrate or Special Executive Magistrate may take necessary preventive action, after inquiry, if there is a reason to believe that a repeat offender is likely to commit an offence or has threatened to commit any offence under the act and if of the opinion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding.

Interestingly, the Bill makes every person associated with the organisation or institution committing offence under the Act liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly for being member of the organisation and group. While the Bill empowers the designated officer to direct any service provider, intermediaries, person or entity to block or remove hate crime materials from its domain including electronic media, it insulates officials from the purview of action.

“No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against public servants for anything which is done in good faith or intended to be done under the Act or rules made thereunder,” the Bill says.

The clauses led to strong opposition from the opposition BJP and the CPI which expressed apprehensions over the likely misuse of the provisions which gave scope for vindictive steps against individuals or organisations.

They wanted the Government to either withdraw the Bill or refer it to a select committee while some members of the ruling party too wanted it to be referred to the select committee to study the provisions in detail. Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar who piloted the Bill said itl would be referred to the select committee for detailed examination.