The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to pass additional directions to curb acts of hate speech, saying that existing laws are sufficient to deal with the problem, Bar and Bench reported.

The notion that the offence is unoccupied by the law is misconceived, Live Law quoted a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta as saying. The court added that there is no legislative vacuum in this regard.

The observations came on a batch of petitions seeking directions and guidelines to address hate speech.

In its order, the bench said that the power to create criminal offences lies within the legislative domain. “The constitutional scheme founded upon the doctrine of separation of powers does not permit the judiciary to create new offences or expand the contours of criminal liability through judicial directions,” Live Law quoted the court as saying.

The order said that the court can only draw attention to the need for reforms.

It also noted that the existing framework of the criminal law, including provisions of the Indian Penal Code and linked legislations “adequately addresses” acts that promote enmity, outrage religious sentiments or disturb public order, the legal news outlet reported.

The court further said that the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita provides for a first information report to be filed in case of cognisable offences. It also provides remedies before...

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