Odisha Law Commission proposes the Hate Speech Act 2026. Offences may attract up to 7 years jail and ₹50,000 fine. Learn about the non-bailable provisions
OdishaPlus Bureau
The Odisha State Law Commission (OSLC) has presented its recommendations for the Odisha Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Act, 2026, to the government, suggesting severe penalties, which include imprisonment for up to seven years, and categorizing such offences as cognizable and non-bailable.
In the case of repeat offences, the minimum imprisonment term would increase to two years, extendable to seven years, with fines that could amount to ₹50,000.
The recommendation, which was forwarded to the Home department in February and made public on Wednesday, is a result of a suo motu review conducted by the commission to assess whether current laws sufficiently address the growing concerns regarding hate speech and communal discord, especially in relation to digital communications and public discourse.
According to the proposed legislation, any individual found guilty of a hate crime would face a minimum imprisonment of one year, which could be extended to five years, along with a fine of ₹10,000. For repeat offences, the minimum jail term would escalate to two years, extendable to seven years, with fines reaching up to ₹50,000.
These offences would be classified as cognizable and non-bailable, enabling police to detain suspects without a warrant and necessitating that courts impose stricter bail conditions. Cases would be adjudicated by a Judicial Magistrate First Class, as outlined in the draft provisions.