Earlier, Karnataka had come up with a similar legislation, the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Odisha State Law Commission has recommended the enactment of a new law to prevent hate speech and hate crimes, after taking suo motu cognisance of the need for such legislation.

The commission, headed by retired Orissa High Court judge Justice Biswanath Rath, felt it was high time to bring such legislation in view of the rising cases of hate speech on social media and other public forums. The matter was referred to a sub-committee of the commission for its examination and suggestion in January this year.

Published – April 09, 2026 04:40 am IST