Section 295A of IPC

Section 295A of IPC states that any speech or written text or signs, which maliciously insults or attempts to insult and demean the religious beliefs of any class of people is punishable with imprisonment upto 4 years or fine or both.

• Such laws are instrumental in tackling deliberate acts of hate speeches which are major source of unrest in many pockets of the world.
• The law has been highly misused by miscreants who tried to encroach upon the fundamental right of free speech of people if latter expressed a conflicting viewpoint to the former.
• It has thus led people to self-censor their expression for fear of prosecution.
• SC in March 2014, has upheld the right to free speech and dismissed the plea seeking its intervention to direct EC to put an end to free speeches during elections.