Karnataka Govt Tables Hate Speech Bill with Up to 10-Year Jail Term

Belagavi: The government tabled the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, seeking to create a stringent legal framework to curb hate speech, prevent hate-motivated offences, and ensure compensation for victims.

Under the proposed law, individuals found guilty of committing a hate crime will face imprisonment ranging from one to seven years and a fine of Rs 50,000. Repeat offenders will face harsher penalties, including a minimum of two years imprisonment, which may extend up to ten years, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

When the bill was tabled in the assembly, the opposition BJP members expressed their opposition by shouting ‘No.’

The bill aims to tackle the rising instances of hate speech—both online and offline—by defining the offence broadly and prescribing strong punitive measures.

According to the Bill, 'Hate Speech' includes any expression which is made, published, or circulated, in words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication or otherwise, in public view, with an intention to cause injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against person alive or dead, class or group of persons or community, to meet any prejudicial interest.

The bill states 'Hate Crime' as communication of hate speech, by making publishing or circulating or any act of promoting, propagating, inciting or abetting or attempting, such hate speech, to cause disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill will against any person dead or alive or group of persons or organization.

It defines ‘Communication' as that includes communication of expression, made in public view, by way of verbal, print, publication, electronic means, or other means to convey such expression.

Under the proposed law, individuals found guilty of committing a hate crime will face imprisonment ranging from one to seven years and a fine of Rs 50,000. Repeat offenders will face harsher penalties, including a minimum of two years imprisonment, which may extend up to ten years, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

The offences will be cognizable and non-bailable, and triable by a Judicial Magistrate First Class. Courts will also be empowered to award adequate compensation to victims based on the gravity of the harm caused.

However, the Bill provides exceptions for material published in public interest—such as literature, art, research, and works of heritage or bona fide religious significance.

The bill states that if the person, committing an offence under this Act, is an Organisation or Institution, every person who, at the time of the offence committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, such organisation or institution for the conduct of the business of the same, as well as such Organisation or Institution, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

However, the Bill adds that such individuals will not be held liable if they can prove that the offence occurred without their knowledge or that they had taken all reasonable steps to prevent it.

The Designated officer, as notified by the State Government, shall have the power to direct any service provider, intermediaries, person or entity to block or remove the hate crime materials from its domain including electronic media.