Gauhati HC issues notice to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma over ‘hate speeches’

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court Thursday issued a notice to chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on a PIL seeking directions to restrain the CM from allegedly making hate speeches against the minority communities in the state.

The PIL filed by Assamese scholar Dr Hiren Gohain and two others said Assam police had not filed any case despite the presence of public videos of alleged hate speeches of Sarma.

The petitioners said such continued inaction, “particularly where the perpetrator occupies the highest constitutional office in the state, creates a chilling effect on victims and witnesses, renders ordinary statutory remedies illusory, and fosters a climate of impunity”.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court asked the petitioners, who approached the apex court seeking action against Sarma for alleged hate speech to approach the high court.

After hearing the matter at length, a division bench of Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury stated, “Let notices be issued to the Union of India, State of Assam, DGP and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.”

The petitioners requested that a direction to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, govt employees and party members among others to completely refrain from indulging in speeches that instigate the social or economic boycott of any minority community in Assam or driving them out from Assam and inciting civilians to take law-and-order into their own hands.

The petitioners urged the high court to direct Sarma to completely refrain from indulging in speech that promotes enmity, hatred and ill-will towards a community based on religion and language.

Prayer has also been made before the high court for a direction for constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising fair, impartial and independent investigators with a proven track record, whether from the Indian Police Service (IPS) or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a former Judge of the high court to supervise and monitor the SIT to ensure that an independent investigation is conducted into the incidents of hate speeches by Sarma. The matters will now be heard in April.