New Delhi: "Respondents will issue directions to their subordinates for appropriate action and such action will be taken irrespective of religion against the person who delivers such hate speech so that the secular character of this country as envisaged in the preamble is maintained," it said.
Petitioner Abdullah has moved the top court also seeking direction to the Centre and states to initiate an independent, credible and impartial probe into the incidents of hate crimes and hate speeches across the country.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Abdullah, referred to a recent incident of hate speech in Delhi.
Sibal said the petitioner made several complaints but no action was taken. These events are happening every day, he said.
At this point, the apex court asked the lawyer-politician, "On a lighter note, when you were Law Minister did you propose anything?
Sibal wriggled out, saying there was no consensus on this issue.
He referred to a speech delivered by BJP MP Parvesh Verma against a community. Verma was alleged to have called for a "total boycott" of that community.
"Please see this statement, it was by a BJP leader asking to boycott them. What are they propagating? We keep coming to the court. Police are also present in such events," Sibal said.
When the top court asked if Muslims also make such hate speeches, Sibal said action should be taken against all who make hate speeches and they (Muslims) should also not be spared.
In his petition, Abdullah has also sought to invoke the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and other stringent provisions to curb hate crimes and hate speeches.
He has alleged the Muslim community is being "targeted and terrorised" by the participation of members of the ruling political party in delivering hate speeches.
"The spread of hate towards Muslims and other minorities gets accelerated and becomes all the more far-reaching in its impact as a result of the support, directly or indirectly, extended to radical miscreants, who engage in acts of hate crimes, physical violence as well as communally charged speeches by the ruling political party," he has said in the petition.