The Odisha State Law Commission has recommended the enactment of a new law to prevent hate speech and hate crimes, after taking suo motu cognisance of the need for such legislation.
The commission, headed by retired Orissa High Court judge Justice Biswanath Rath, felt it was high time to bring such legislation in view of the rising cases of hate speech on social media and other public forums. The matter was referred to a sub-committee of the commission for its examination and suggestion in January this year.
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Earlier, Karnataka had come up with a similar legislation, the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025.
After examining the suggestion of the sub-committee, the commission finalised the draft Bill and resolved to recommend that the State government bring a new legislation on January 30, 2026.
