The “hate speech” complaint in opposition to VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, filed after his 2020 online speech, was recently quashed by way of the Madras high court docket. Justice P. Velmurugan allowed Thirumavalavan’s petition, ruling that the allegations did no longer meet the standards for a hate speech price underneath Indian regulation.
The complaint, first of all lodged through a non-public birthday celebration, claimed that Thirumavalavan’s speech, which was streamed on a famous YouTube channel, amounted to “hate speech” against Indian ladies, particularly Hindu women. however, the choose observed no proof that the speech cited “hate speech” as defined within the IPC or information technology Act. The court cited that Thirumavalavan had simply mentioned the book “Manu Smriti” in a trendy context, with none direct incitement or malicious reason.
In light of these findings, the court docket quashed the “hate speech” criticism, stating that the content did no longer substantiate the allegations. The judgment underscored that the speech was popular in nature and did now not intend to target any institution or community.
as a result, Thirumavalavan’s case serves as a vital example in the ongoing felony interpretation of “hate speech” and its implications inside the framework of Indian regulation.
