PUCL Delhi: Lawyers Round Table on Communal Harmony

Feb 13, 2026
Relevant State Delhi

INTRODUCTION 

 

Communal harmony is the bedrock of a progressive and peaceful society. In India, a nation renowned for its diversity, the promotion and preservation of communal harmony is both a social imperative and a constitutional duty. However, the proliferation of hate crimes and hate speech poses a significant threat to this harmony, often leading to violence, discrimination, social exclusion and fragmentation. Lawyers, as custodians of justice and advocates for the rule of law, have a pivotal role to play in combating these challenges and fostering a climate of mutual respect and understanding.

 

UNDERSTANDING HATE CRIMES AND HATE SPEECH 

 

Hate crimes are criminal acts motivated by prejudice or intolerance towards particular communities based on religion, caste, ethnicity, or other identity markers. Hate speech refers to communication that incites hatred, discrimination, or violence against individuals or groups, often targeting minorities. Both phenomena undermine social cohesion and violate the fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution, such as equality before the law and freedom from discrimination.

 

THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK IN INDIA 

 

India’s legal system provides several mechanisms to address hate crimes and hate speech. Section 196 (which replaces Section 153A of the IPC): Promoting animosity among different groups based on religion, race, language and other factors; Section 197 (replacing Section 153B of the IPC): Aims to protect national integration by prohibiting statements or actions that promote enmity, divisions, or distrust among social groups based on religion, race, language; Section 299 (replacing Section 295A of the IPC): criminalizes deliberate and malicious conduct intended to offend the religious sensitivities of any community. Section 353 (replacing Section 505 of the IPC): This section criminalizes statements and publications that promote violence or provoke panic, resulting in public disorder. Section 356 of the BNS deals with the legal surrounding defamation, which involves making statements that harm another person’s reputation. 

 

Moreover, the Constitution of India guarantees fundamental rights that protect individuals from discrimination and violence. The judiciary has also played an active role in interpreting these provisions to safeguard communal harmony. However, in spite of these provisions hate crimes and hate speech are prevalent at large scale and they become more strident during election days.

THE ROLE OF LAWYERS IN COMBATING HATE CRIMES AND HATE SPEECH 

 

  1. Lawyers can represent victims of hate crimes and hate speech, ensuring their access to justice. By filing complaints, pursuing litigation, and advocating for fair trials, lawyers help hold perpetrators accountable and deter future offences. 
  2. Legal Awareness and Education: Through workshops, seminars, and public outreach, lawyers can educate citizens about the legal consequences of hate crimes and hate speech and raise awareness about constitutional values and the importance of communal harmony can prevent incidents before they occur. 
  3. Strategic Litigation: Public interest litigation (PIL) can be used to challenge unconstitutional practices, demand stricter enforcement of laws, and seek remedies for affected communities. Strategic litigation can also set important legal precedents that promote communal harmony. 
  4. Mediation and Conflict Resolution: Lawyers can act as mediators in communal disputes, facilitating dialogue and reconciliation between conflicting groups. By promoting peaceful resolution, lawyers help prevent escalation and foster long-term harmony. 
  5. Monitoring and Reporting: Lawyers can collaborate with civil society organizations to monitor incidents of hate crimes and hate speech, document cases, and report them to the relevant authorities. Reliable data is crucial for effective policy interventions.

 

CHALLENGES FACED BY LAWYERS 

 

Despite their crucial role, lawyers may encounter obstacles such as political pressure, lack of awareness, threats to personal safety, and systemic delays in the justice system. Overcoming these challenges requires institutional support, strong professional ethics, and collaboration with other stakeholders.

 

PURPOSE OF THE LAWYER’S ROUND TABLE 

 

This Lawyer’s Round Table proposes to discuss the issues related to hate crimes and hate speeches and explore the possibilities of addressing the same through collective efforts under the aegis of Delhi Unit of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties. For evolving a consensus on the methodology for effective action, PUCL-Delhi is organising this Lawyer’s Round Table on 13th February 2026 from 2.30 pm to 6 pm at Conference Hall II, India International Centre, Max Muller Road, Near Khan Market, New Delhi-110003. Each participant who wishes to speak will be given 5 minutes to express his opinion on the following issues:

 

  1. Possibility of setting up a dedicated group which is active especially during State or National Elections to monitor speeches and whenever a hate speech or hate crime is reported takes immediate action and an alert is issued, resulting in Civil liberties, human rights and civil society organizations immediately writing to concerned authorities e.g Election Commission, Police Authorities, Home Ministry, Judges of Supreme Court and High Court etc. Requesting them to take immediate action. 
  2. Possibility of setting up legal aid cells in various District Courts, High Courts and Supreme Court for taking legal action for prosecuting hate crimes and hate speeches and providing legal aid to victims of communal violence.
  3. Possibility of building a unified pressure group of lawyers who can persuade their Bar Councils/Associations to take steps for promoting communal harmony within the bar. 
  4. To explore the formation of a dedicated group that can carry this work forward and can also come up with other ideas to promote communal harmony and combat hate crimes and hate speech. 

 

We welcome participants and stakeholders committed to the idea of Communal Harmony. If you want to work and are interested in expressing your opinion, or if you wish some other issue also to be discussed, please convey to the following of Delhi Unit of People Union for Civil Liberties:

 

Mr. Arun Maji, President, PUCL Delhi | Mobile Number 9582529401 

Mr. T S Ahuja, General Secretary, PUCL Delhi | Mobile: 9811586723