Explained | What is Karnataka’s new hate speech Bill?

Amid stiff opposition from the BJP, the Karnataka government on Wednesday (December 10, 2025) tabled the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crime (Prevention) Bill, 2025, in the Legislative Assembly.

The Bill, which aims to to curb hate speech and proposes a jail term of 10 years and fine, was cleared by the cabinet on December 4. It was tabled in the Assembly by Home Minister G. Parameshwara.

What are the provisions in the Bill? What are the proposed penalties?

The Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, seeks to curb or prevent the dissemination, publication or promotion of hate speech and hate crimes, which can cause disharmony and hatred in society.

What is ‘hate speech” and “hate crime”?

According to the Bill, “hate speech” includes any expression which is made, published, or circulated either by spoken or written word, by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication, and has an intention to cause injury, disharmony, or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against a person alive or dead, a class or group of persons, or a community.

It defines “hate crime” as communication, publishing or circulation of hate speech or any act of promoting, propagating, inciting or abetting or attempting such hate speech to cause disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against any person dead or alive or group of persons or organisations.

An act or expression on the basis of religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability or tribe has been categorised as “hate speech” and “hate crime”.

What is the punishment?

The punishment for hate crime includes imprisonment from one to seven years, and a fine of ₹50,000. For repeat offenders, jail term is two years to 10 years with a fine of ₹1 lakh.

The offences under the proposed legislation are cognisable and non-bailable, and triable by the Judicial Magistrate First Class. The provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, will be applicable.

The Bill also brings under its ambit oganisations or institutions. It states that every person of an organisation or institution who, at the time of offence, was either in charge of and was responsible for it shall be deemed guilty and will be liable for punishment. The said persons will then have to prove that the offence was committed without their knowledge or that they had exercised all due diligence to prevent it.

How will victims be compensated?

Under the bill, courts may award adequate compensation to victims based on the harm caused. 

The Bill empowers an officer designated by the State government to direct any service provider, intermediaries, person or entity to block or remove the hate crime materials from its domain, including electronic media.

The Executive Magistrate or Special Executive Magistrate or Deputy Police Superintendents can also take “preventive action” if they believe that a person or a group within their jurisdiction is likely to commit a hate crime offence.

What are the exemptions?

The Bill’s provisions do not cover any textbooks, pamphlets, papers, writings, drawings, paintings representation or figure in the electronic media or whose publication is done in the interest of the public good. This includes science, literature, art, learning or are used for “bona fide” heritage or religious purposes.