The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Gujarat, Kerala, Nagaland, and Tamil Nadu governments, asking whether they have appointed nodal officers to prevent and act against hate crimes, in compliance with its 2018 judgment.
In its Tehseen Poonawala judgment in 2018, the court had condemned hate crimes. Holding that it was the “sacrosanct duty” of the state to protect the lives of its citizens, it issued guidelines for the States, and the police to prevent, control and deter mob violence and lynchings. It had also directed every district to appoint a nodal officer not below the rank of superintendent of police to take preventive action against hate crimes.
“Affidavit in this regard will be filed by the respective States within four weeks from today. Details and particulars of the nodal officers shall be stated,” a Bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna ordered.
