Karnataka cabinet approves hate speech & crimes prevention draft bill; jail term up to 10 years for offenders

Karnataka deputy CM Shivakumar with CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka cabinet on December 4 approved Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Draft Bill, 2025, aimed at preventing hate speech and hate crimes in the state.

The draft bill provides a legal framework to punish individuals and organisations promoting disharmony, enmity, or ill-will against persons or groups on grounds including religion, caste, gender, sexual orientation, disability, language, and place of birth.

Under the draft bill, ‘hate speech’ is defined as any expression- spoken, written, or communicated through signs, visible representations, or electronic means-intended to cause injury, enmity, or hatred. A ‘hate crime’ refers to acts of promoting, circulating, or attempting such speech to incite disharmony.

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The draft bill proposes punishments ranging from one to seven years of imprisonment with fines starting at Rs. 50,000 for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders could face two to ten years of imprisonment with fines up to Rs 1 lakh. Courts may also award adequate compensation to victims depending on the severity of harm. All offences under the draft bill are cognizable, non-bailable, and triable by the Judicial Magistrate First Class.

Preventive measures include powers for Executive Magistrates or senior police officers to act against potential offences, and designated state officials can direct service providers to block or remove hate content from electronic platforms. The draft Bill also holds organisations accountable, making those in charge liable for offences unless they can prove due diligence in preventing them.

The legislation clarifies that materials published for public good-such as works promoting science, literature, art, learning, or religious purposes-are exempt, and actions taken in good faith by public servants are protected from legal proceedings.

The draft bill empowers the state government to make rules and remove difficulties in implementation and states that it complements existing laws such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.

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