‘Why Can't An Anchor Be Taken Off Air?’ Supreme Court On Hate Speech

The Supreme Court observed that hate speeches are a "complete menace" and lamented the lack of regulatory control on TV news content, stating it wants a "free and balanced press in India."  

The top court said nowadays everything is driven by TRP (television rating point) and channels are competing with each other and creating a division in society. It wondered why can't a TV news anchor, if they become a part of the problem of propagating hate speech, be taken off air.

"We want free speech, but at what cost," the court said noting that, unlike print media, there is no Press Council of India for news channels.

The remarks were made by a bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna, which was hearing a batch of petitions seeking a curb on hate speech incidents across the country and action against the culprits.

"Hate speech has become a complete menace. It has to stop," the bench said.